Preamble

Recent ongoing and anticipated powerful changes in Central Austin cause CNA to seek a more effective and representative form. We affirm our intent to build active consensus, broaden participation, act collectively, capitalize on opportunities and manage problems. In addition to its other duties, we charge our new Steering Committee with framing a neighborhood vision and seeing it through.

Article I. Name

The name of the organization shall be Cherrywood Neighborhood Association (CNA).

Article II. Purpose

Promote open discussion of neighborhood issues.

Pursue solutions and actions favored by members.

Monitor and inform CNA members of private initiatives and public policies significant to Cherrywood.

Article III. Boundaries Map

The boundaries of the Association shall be as follows:

West Boundary: West side of IH35 Feeder Road

East Boundary: East border of Airport Boulevard right of way.

South Boundary: South Border of Manor Road right of way.

North Boundary: North Boundary of CNA shall coincide with the current (1998) south boundary of Wilshire Wood (Delwood I) Neighborhood Association

Article IV. Membership

All residents 18 or older who reside within the described boundaries are members of the association.

Article V. Meetings of the Membership

All general and special meetings of the members shall require notice specifying date, time, place and agenda as known. Meeting notices shall be delivered to each member household no fewer than 7 days nor more than 30 days prior to the meeting.

General meetings of the membership shall be held at approximately quarterly intervals at a time and place to be determined by the membership at a previous meeting, or by the Steering Committee.

Special meetings of the members may be called by the Steering Committee or upon receiving the written request of not fewer than 10 general members. Only the business specified in the call can be taken up at a special meeting.

A quorum for votes of record is twenty members. With or without a quorum, "sense-of-meeting" votes are open to all attending.

Article VI. Steering Committee

The Steering Committee shall be the principal representative, governing, and policy- recommending body of the Association. Actions of the Steering Committee shall be governed by the will of the membership as expressed at general and special meetings.

The Steering Committee shall consist of 13 members. No more than one member of a household may serve on the Steering Committee at any given time.

Members of the Steering Committee shall be elected at large to serve two-year terms, the election to take place at the October general membership meeting.   In even-numbered years, seven members will be elected and six current members will continue to serve out their two-year terms; in odd-numbered years, six members will be elected and seven members will continue to serve out their two-year terms. [as amended 28Jul99]

In any year, prior or current service on the Steering Committee does not disqualify a member from nomination.

A slate of names equal to the numer of vacancies shall be submitted in nomination to the Steering Committee by the Nominating Committee. Nominations may also be made from the floor by any member. Any nomination must be previously agreed to by the nominee. The slate submitted by the Nominating Committee shall be published in the notice of the (election) meeting. [as amended 00Jan26]

Election of the Steering Committee members shall be by paper ballot if there are more than the minimum required number of nominees. Each member may cast as many votes as there are open positions , each for a different nominee. A tie shall be decided by an agreed upon method of chance. [as amended 28Jul99]

Members of the Steering Committee shall take office at the end of the meeting at which they were elected, and shall serve for a two-year term.

Vacancies on the Steering Committee occurring between regular annual elections shall be filled by election at the next General Membership meeting.

The Steering Committee shall hold regular meetings each month in which a regular meeting of the membership is not scheduled, at a time and place designated by the Steering Committee. Notice of time and place shall be published in the newsletter.

Special meetings of the Steering Committee may be called by the Chair or by any four of its members.

A quorum of the Steering Committee shall be seven members.

The Steering Committee shall be empowered to conduct the business of the Association between membership meetings. It shall make recommendations for action and policy to the general membership. In case of necessity, it shall be empowered to determine policy questions by a two-thirds vote. [as amended 00Jan26]

All Steering Committee meetings are open to members. However, only Steering Committee members may vote on questions before the Committee.

A member of the Steering Committee who fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings of the Steering Committee (including general membership meetings), or who ceases to be a member of the Association, shall be considered to have resigned, and a vacancy may be declared by the Steering Committee. A member of the Steering Committee may be removed from the Committee for any reason by two-thirds vote of a General Membership meeting, provided that the recall is included in the agenda of the required notice of the meeting.

Article VII. Officers

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

The officers shall be selected by the Steering Committee from among its members at its first regular meeting. A majority of the entire Steering Committee shall elect the officers.

The officers shall take office immediately upon being elected. The terms shall extend until the new Steering Committee elects their successors.

The duties and responsibilities of officers are as follows:

The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the membership and the Steering Committee. The Chair shall, with the Secretary, be responsible for providing required notices. The Chair shall be the principal representative of the Association. The Chair may designate chairing duties as required.

The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair as necessary.

The Secretary shall keep a complete record of all actions (including a separate list of policies) of Membership and Steering Committee meetings. The Secretary shall, with the Chair, be responsible for providing required meeting notices.

The Treasurer maintains an Association bank account, collects and disburses funds including dues as authorized by the Association, accounts for Association assets, and reports at each regular meeting on Association finances.

If any officer can no longer serve, the Steering Committee shall replace them at the next regular meeting.

An officer who fails to properly perform the prescribed duties of office may be removed by a majority of the entire Steering Committee or by by two-thirds vote of a General Membership meeting, provided that the recall is included in the agenda of the required notice of meeting.

Article VIII. Committees

The Steering Committee shall establish standing committees, committees and task forces as necessary to organize the Association's work effectively and encourage community-oriented volunteer efforts.

The Nominating Committee shall be a standing committee consisting of five members, no more than two of whom shall be members of the Steering Committee. It shall present a slate of candidates for the Steering Committee election prior to the October general membership meeting as specified previously in the by-laws; in so doing it shall attempt to balance the membership of the Steering Committee with respect to geographic residence, age, sex, occupation, and areas of expertise, choosing from among persons who have demonstrated interest in furthering the goals of the Association.  

Article IX . 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 X. Policy Determination

Policy positions for the Association shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting of the membership at which a quorum is present, or in case of necessity, between membership meetings, by a two-thirds vote of a meeting of the Steering Committee at which a quorum is present, as specified in Article VI, Section 8. No member of the Association or its Steering Committee may make a public statement as a representative body without such authorization.

Article XI. Books and Records

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

Article XII. Parliamentary Authority.

Rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws.  Robert's Rules on-line is the original 1915 ed. -- published now is the a revised 1990 ed.  Also available is a simple chart of motions from the new rev. ed.  Someday we might wish to consider the simpler and more contemporary Goldberg's Rules of Order for Association Boards .

Article XIII. Amendment

The by-laws may be amended, altered, or repealed by a two-thirds vote at any meeting of the membership, provided that the exact wording of the proposed change(s) is included in the agenda of the required notice of the meeting.

Article XIV. Repeal

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