BYLAWS OF REGENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, INC.

Revised and Effective April, 1993

Revised March 1998

Revised May 2000

Revised April 2007

I.                    NAME

This Association shall be know as the Regent Neighborhood Association.  The neighborhood boundaries shall be generally defined by the following:  Breese Terrace, Campus Drive, Franklin Avenue, Speedway, and the bike trails running from Glenway Street to Breese Terrace.

II.                 PURPOSE

The purpose of the Neighborhood Association shall be, to the extent practicable, to maintain and improve neighborhood civic-mindedness, to improve and maintain the family and residential qualities of the community, to maintain appropriate relations with local businesses, landlords, and renters, and to improve the quality of schools, green spaces, transportation, and other municipal services to the neighborhood. In pursuit of the forenamed objectives, the Neighborhood Association shall seek to establish and maintain a broad-based, inclusive, and credible organization to engage as many neighborhood residents as practicable in civic functions, social hospitality, neighborhood improvement projects, pursuit of governmental issues or actions affecting the neighborhood, and any other activities that may enhance the livability of the neighborhood and the welfare of its residents. The Neighborhood Association recognizes that the articulation of common interests, strong communication links with residents and the constant pursuit of broad-based participation in Association activities are critical to the success of the Association, and shall be fundamental considerations guiding Association action.

III.               MEMBERSHIP

A.     Membership is open to all persons residing in the Association area who are 18 years of age or older.  There shall be two types of membership:  family/household and individual.  In addition, there shall be a non-voting associate business membership for businesses in the Association area or vicinity choosing to pay annual dues as set forth hereinafter.

B.     Any member having paid his dues at least 48 hours before a meeting shall be a member in good standing.

C.     Voting at all meetings shall be limited to members in good standing.  A family/household membership entitles two adult residents of the household to vote, but no other member of the family or household, unless that  member has an individual membership.

D.     Amount of dues for each category of membership will be established annually by the Board,

IV.              GOVERNANCE OF ASSOCIATION

A.     The Association shall be subject to the policy direction set by the membership at general meetings.

B.     Administration of the Association shall be by the Board of Directors, hereinafter called "the Board."

C.     The Board shall:

1.      Execute the housekeeping and administrative duties of the Association, and conduct its business in meetings held on a schedule decided by June of each year.  Board resolution may alter the meeting dates, as required for the convenience of Board members.

2.      Coordinate the activities and projects of all Association Committees.  As deemed necessary, the Board may form ad hoc committees.

3.      Call the general meetings of the Association.

4.      Establish the agendas of general meetings, but agenda items requested by three-fourths of the members of a standing committee or requested by twenty-five members shall be placed on the agenda by the Board.

5.      By a two-thirds vote, order reconsideration at the next general meeting any item voted by the membership.  No item can be scheduled more than once by the Board for such reconsideration.

6.      Shall publish an Association newsletter and provide for other Association publications.

7.      Approve all expenditures, review and approve the accounts of the treasurer at least twice yearly, and establish accounting procedures as it may deem necessary.

D.     The Board shall be composed of the officers and officers-elect of the Association, 5 at-large members, and the chairs of the Standing Committees (or committee-designated alternates approved by the Board).  The foregoing shall each hold office for a term of one-year commencing at the annual meeting of the membership in May of each calendar year.  Officers shall have the option to serve for one additional year with approval of the board and with the consent of the nominating committee. A majority of the number of Board members fixed by these bylaws shall constitute a quorum for a Board meeting except that if the President, Secretary or Treasurer is present, one-third of the number of Board members shall constitute a quorum.

E.      Officers-elect and area liaisons shall be elected from a slate of candidates presented to the annual meeting of the membership by a nominating committee.  The nominating committee shall consist of the President of the Association, an area liaison, and two other members of the Association.  Members of the nominating committee other than the President are subject to approval of the Board. 

V.                 OFFICERS

A.     The officers shall be: President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  An officer-elect may vote in the current officer’s absence; however, only one vote is allowed per office at any time.  For purposes of Ch. 181, Wis. Statutes, the Immediate Past President shall be considered the Vice-President of the Association.  A quorum of the officers shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Board and is empowered to exercise the powers of the Board on behalf of the Association, when resort to formal Board action is unfeasible or impractical.

B.     Any member in good standing shall be eligible to hold office except elected officials of city, county, or state government.

C.     The term of office shall be one year.  The President-Elect, Secretary-Elect and Treasurer-Elect automatically succeed to their designated offices upon expiration of their respective terms as officers-elect.

D.     The President shall be responsible for calling Board meetings and such appointments as described in these bylaws.

E.      The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the minutes of all Board and general membership meetings and shall prepare and maintain an ongoing record-file of said minutes.  In the event the Secretary is unable to attend any meeting, the Secretary-Elect shall perform the functions of the Secretary.  The secretary shall assure filing, as necessary, of any documents required by the Wisconsin Secretary of State under Ch. 181, Wis. Stats.

F.      The Treasurer shall maintain the accounts of the Association subject to such review as set forth in Article IV, section C. 7.  The Treasurer shall maintain the checking and savings accounts of the Association, and shall present to the Board those matters on which any banking institution requires Board or Association action.

G.     In the event the President, Treasurer, or Secretary resigns or is unable to continue in office during his or her designated term, the President-Elect, Secretary-Elect, or Treasurer-Elect, as the case may be, shall immediately succeed to the duties of the office.  The officer-elect position will not be filled, but shall be considered vacant.  In the event a further vacancy occurs, leaving no elected successor, the Board shall convene as soon as practicable, and designate one of its members as an interim officer until the next annual meeting.

VI.              AREA LIAISONS AND BLOCK CAPTAIN SYSTEM

A.     There shall be eight area liaisons, one from each of the districts designated by action of the board and published in the RNA directory.

B.     Area liaisons shall be appointed by the President for a term of one year with approval by a majority vote of the Board.  There are no limits to the number of terms an Area Liaison can serve.

C.     In the event an area liaison is unable to fulfill his duties of office, or resigns, the President shall appoint and alternate with approval by a majority vote of the Board.  Preference shall be given to block captains within the district of the vacating area liaison.  Area liaisons shall be responsible for recruiting and identifying to the Board "block captains" (or co-captains) within their respective districts.  Area liaisons shall actively recruit their successors.  Board members shall provide assistance to area liaisons in the active recruitment and retention of block captains and successor area

D.     The Board and area liaisons shall institute and maintain to the maximum extent possible a system of block captains within the neighborhood, with each captain responsible for contact with approximately 20 households.  Pursuant to direction from the Board, as implemented by area liaisons, block captains shall be responsible for:

1.      Distribution of newsletters and/or general meeting notices within designated areas.

2.      Prompt identification to the Membership/Outreach committee of new residents in the neighborhood for purposes of welcoming events.

3.      Contacting households in their designated areas every April (or at such other times as the Board may designated) to collect annual Association dues, to remind residents of the May annual meeting, to survey households for such information as the Board authorizes for purposes of Association publications, e.g. a neighborhood directory, and to perform such other Association business as authorized by resolution of the Association's Board or its general membership.

VII.            COMMITTEES

A.     For the purposes of establishing priority issues, the Board shall identify the standing committees for the upcoming year by July of each year.  The President shall appoint the chair of each standing committee with approval by a majority vote of the Board.  There are no limits on the number of terms a chair can serve.  All committees shall be composed of as many members as desire to be on the committee.

B.     Ad hoc committees can be established on an as needed basis by majority vote of the Board.  Ad hoc committee members will not be voting members of the Board.

C.     Should two successive regular meetings of the Board be unattended by the Chair of his or her alternate of a standing committee, the President may request the committee elect a new Chair, or alternatively, appoint a new committee Chair subject to a majority vote of the Board.

D.     Standing committees may include but are not necessarily limited to or inclusive of the following:

1.      Streets and transportation (streets and curbs, sidewalks, parking, traffic, snow removal, cleaning, lighting, trash, etc.);

2.      Membership (coordination with area liaisons, delivery of newsletter to distribution network, membership roll maintenance);

3.      Zoning;

4.      School Relations;

5.      Communications (production of association newsletters/meeting notices, and other publications);

6.      University Relations;

7.      Greenspace Conservation (parks, playgrounds, greenspace);

8.      Neighborhood Activities (July 4th Celebration; Garden Tour; and Neighborhood Garage Sale.); and

9.      Strategic Planning.

E.      All chairs of standing and ad hoc committees shall report on an as needed basis as determined by the committee or at the request of the President.

VIII. MEETINGS

A.     The Board shall meet at least six times annually and shall set a schedule of meetings by July of each year.  The meeting schedule will be printed in newsletters, posted on the RNA website, and distributed via the RNA listserv. 

B.     General meetings of the membership shall be held at least two times per year.  One meeting shall be held in May and shall be known as the annual meeting and shall include the election of officers to the Board of Directors and at-large members.  A quorum shall consist of not less than twenty members.

C.     General meetings shall be called by the Board either by a majority vote of the Directors present and voting at a Board meeting or by petition to the Board from twenty-five percent of the then membership.  Such a petition shall be presented to the secretary and, upon receipt and check of signatures, shall constitute a valid petition for call of a general meeting of the membership.  Call of the meeting shall be mandatory.

D.     All general meetings must be announced at least seven days in advance by distribution of the newsletter of the Association containing a notice of said meeting therein.  Substantial distribution to all parts of the neighborhood shall constitute due notice regardless of minor failures in distribution.

E.      The tentative agenda for the general meeting shall be part of the notice to members.  Substantial matters of excessive length may be noticed by general summaries which shall include information stating where and how complete information may be obtained.

IX. PUBLIC ACTION AND REPRESENTATION

No committee shall take public action, nor any member represent himself or herself as speaking in the name of the Association unless so authorized by the Board pursuant to majority vote on an appropriate resolution, or by direct authorization by a resolution passed at a general meeting of the membership.  Where time does not permit the convening of the Board, the Executive Committee of the Board may authorize a person to represent the Association before a public body.

X. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order Revised (latest edition) shall govern the Association in all cases to which said rules are applicable and to the extent said rules are not inconsistent with these bylaws.

XI. AMENDMENTS

A.     These bylaws may be amended by the members either at the annual meeting or at any general meeting, provided the proposed amendment or amendments are submitted in writing to the membership at least seven days in advance via notice in the newsletter of the Association.

B.     An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting is required to amend these bylaws.

XII. ENACTMENT

These bylaws shall be effective immediately upon approval. 

XIII. INCORPORATION

The Board is authorized to make technical changes in these bylaws, upon unanimous vote of the Board, as may be required by Ch. 181, Wis. Stats., as amended from time to time. [last revised May 2000]