ARTICLE 1.      NAME

The name of the organization shall be Gray's Woods Neighborhood Association.

• All American Neighborhood tm Established in 1996.

• Recognized by the Des Moines City Council, the Polk County Board of Supervisors and the Neighborhood Revitalization Board all of whom approved our Neighborhood Action Plan in March 1999.

• An Iowa Nonprofit Corporation as required by Iowa Code Chapter 504.

 

ARTICLE 2.          PURPOSE

The purpose of the organization is to:

• Enhance the quality of life of the residents in the neighborhood.

• Preserve and enhance the residential character of the neighborhood.

• Ensure all existing and projected infrastructure systems are managed or developed so they enhance the physical, visual and spatial qualities of the neighborhood.

• Strengthen communication between and among the Association's residents, property owners, business owners, Polk County and the City of Des Moines-

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ARTICLE 3.      BOUNDARIES

The boundaries and service territory of the area represented by the Association shall be Easton Boulevard on the north, the Des Moines City Limits on the east, East University Avenue on the south and East 33rd Street on the west.

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ARTICLE 4.      MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING

Section I.   Membership in the Association is open to all persons over the age of 18 who reside within the boundaries of the Association.

Section 2.  There are no membership dues.

Section 3.  Each active member over the age of 18 who lives within the Association boundaries and has attended at least two previous meetings shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members

Section 4.  Voting Requirements- Votes shall be carried by a majority of members present and voting unless otherwise required by law- Members must be present to vote.

 

ARTICLE 5.      MEETNG OF MEMBERS - ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

Section 1. An annual meeting shall be held on the second Tuesday during the month of October each year with the exact time and place of the meeting to be agreed upon by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing officers and transacting other such business as may be necessary.

Section 2. General meetings shall be held on the second Tuesday of March, May and October at 6:30 p.m. at the Four Mile Community Center, 3711 Easton Boulevard. The August meeting shall be held on the first Tuesday of August at 6:00 p.m., location determined by the Board of Directors

Section 3. All general, annual, special or Board meetings shall be held within the boundaries of the neighborhood at the Four Mile Community Center, 3711 Easton Boulevard or a location determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Notice of each meeting shall be provided at least seven days before the meeting. Notification may consist of the following methods: mail, newspaper, flyers, signs, phone, email, Website, Social Media, etc.

Section 5. Minutes of the general and annual meetings shall be available to members at all meetings and approved by a majority vote of the members voting- Minutes, upon request, can be provided to members, City and/or County staff Copies of the minutes of the most recent meeting shall be available at the next meeting.

Section 6. Open Meetings. All meetings, general and board, shall be open to the public.

Section 7. A financial report shall be available to all persons present at general meetings as well as the annual meeting- The report shall be approved by a majority vote of the members voting.

 

ARTICLE 6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS      

Section l. The Board of Directors shall exercise all powers vested in it by the general membership and shall be responsible for the business of the Association.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers of the Association and all committee chairpersons. All officers and directors shall serve without compensation.

Section 3. The Board of Directors and the Association officers shall be Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of twice per fiscal year, one of which shall be the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, the Board shall schedule the meeting dates for the forthcoming year. These meetings will be held no more than two weeks in advance of the regularly scheduled Association meetings. In addition, special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chair and must be called by the Chair at the request of at least two Board members. The purpose of each meeting shall be stated in the notice to Board members 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Section 5. A quorum shall consist of 50% of the Board plus one (1) Board member. An affirmative vote of the majority of all Board members present and voting Shall be required for approval of any action.

Section 6. Members of the Board of Directors are expected to attend all Board and Association meetings. Missing three consecutive meetings shall be construed as resignation from the Board. If extenuating circumstances arise that lead to three or more missed meetings, the absent Board member may seek Board approval to have the absence be excused. If Board membership is terminated, it may only be reinstated by a majority of the general membership.

 

 

ARTICLE 7. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section l. The Chair shall preside at all general, annual and Board of Directors meetings- The Chair, or the Chair's Board member designee, shall be the Association's representative on issues before the Des Moines City Council, any city board or commission, the media or public forum.

Section 2. The Vice Chair, in the absence of the Chair or in the event of the chair's inability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Chair and other duties as assigned by the Chair or as determined by the Board of Directors-

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Association and the Board of Directors meetings. The Secretary shall be the custodian of all minutes of the Association and the attendance lists from the Association meetings. The Secretary shall be responsible for making written copies of the minutes available to the members in attendance.

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Section 4. The Treasurer shall oversee and keep an itemized report for the Board and the Association. Two persons, either the Treasurer or the Chair shall be able to sign checks. Only one signature is required on the check. The Treasurer shall prepare and distribute a financial report for all meetings as well as an annual financial report to be received at the annual meeting. The Treasurer shall prepare and submit the Biennial Report to the Secretary of State of Iowa. The Biennial report is due on April 1st (odd years.) The Treasurer shall prepare and submit the Annual Neighborhood Survey to the City of Des Moines Community Development The City determines the due date. Section 5. All officers shall perform the duties outlined in the bylaws and those assigned from time to time. Upon expiration ofthe term of office, or in case of resignation, each officer shall turn over to the Chair, vöthout delay, all records, books and other materials pertaining to the office and shall return to the Treasurer without delay all funds pertaining to the office. Both the Secretary and the Chair shall keep copies of meeting minutes and financial reports. All records shall remain property of the Association.

 

ARTICLE 8. COMMITTEES

Section I. The Board shall establish and appoint committees as necessary for the purpose of the Association with approval of the membership. Committee chairpersons will then be part of the Board of Directors and conform to the requirements set forth in Article 6 of these bylaws. Standing committees will consist of the following:

• The Beautification, Streets and Safety Committee shall coordinate efforts such as Dubuque Avenue, East University Avenue, 1-235, Four Mile, Strasser Woods State Preserve, etc- The committee shall coordinate the dissemination of information to the neighborhood about reporting nuisances, graffiti and crime.

• The Bylaws/Nominating Committee shall recommend bylaws modifications and slate of officers for the annual meeting.

• The Communications Committee shall coordinate meeting notifications such as mailings, newspaper, flyers, signs, phone, email, Website, Facebook, Social Media, etc.

• The Revitalization Committee shall be the liaison between City staff and the Association and will report any information and progress to the Board of Directors-

 

ARTICLE 9. ELECTIONS

Section l. General elections shall take place at the annual meeting in October. The Board shall fill vacancies that may occur between general elections and additional nominations may be submitted from those in attendance at the next membership meeting.

Section 2. Officers and other members of the Board of Directors will assume their duties directly following the October annual meeting.

Section 3. The nominating committee shall be composed of not more than three members appointed by the committee Chair.

Section 4. The nominating committee shall secure consent of its nominees to serve before the election.

Section 5. The Chair of the nominating committee shall present a slate of nominees for all Board positions to be filled on an annual basis- Additional nominations may be requested and submitted from those in attendance at the meeting.

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ARTICLE 10. FINANCES

Section I.          Dues. There are no membership dues-

Section 2 Treasurer's Report. The Treasurer shall provide a report to be presented at all Association and Board meetings.

Section 3.        Records. The Treasurer shall provide any and all Association financial records to the Board as well as City and/or County staff upon request.

 

ARTICLE 11. POLITICAL ELECTIONS

The Association shall not help, approve or otherwise endorse any political candidate for office.

 

ARTICLE 12. APPROVAL AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Section 1. The bylaws, upon being presented to the membership, shall become effective upon approval of a majority vote of the members voting.

Section 2. Subsequent amendment of the bylaws shall require a sixty- percent (60%) majority of those present at the annual meeting.

Section 3. Amended bylaws will be dated and copies will be made available to the membership. The Treasurer will send a copy of the amended bylaws, along with the Annual  Neighborhood Survey, to the City of Des Moines Community Development Department to have on file.