LAKEWOOD ESTATES CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
BY-LAWS
Article I – Name, Purpose and Type
The name of this Association shall be Lakewood Estates Civic Association, Inc. (hereinafter “LECA” or “the Association”).
The purpose of this Association shall be:
1. to encourage and promote community pride in our neighborhood by providing a forum for neighborhood activity;
2. to be a voice for our common neighborhood interest by acting as liaison with governmental bodies and with institutions, schools and businesses in and around our neighborhood, and to work with other neighborhood associations on common concerns;
3. to serve as a focal point for maintenance and improvement of institutions and facilities serving our neighborhood, including parks, schools and public safety services, and to provide an avenue for neighborhood social activities;
4. to encourage and facilitate vigorous citizen participation all issues affecting our neighborhood, including land use, zoning changes, traffic patterns and street modifications;
5. to help guide and insure reasonable managed growth of the neighborhood;
6. other lawful purposes.
This Association is and shall remain a non-profit organization, and no part of the net earnings hereof shall inure to any individual member.
Article II – Membership
Individual membership in the Association shall consist of any person 18 years of age or older who resides in or owns residential zoned property in the neighborhood and who has paid the annual dues, or non-married individuals 18 years of age or older who reside jointly within the neighborhood and who have, individually or as a group, paid annual membership dues. Such paid members shall also be known as “active members.”
Any other civic or neighborhood association within the boundaries of Lakewood Estates may also be a member of the LECA but that association will collectively have only one membership vote. Businesses within the boundaries of Lakewood Estates may become members under a group membership; however, they will have no vote.
Voting privileges are as follows:
– One vote per household, regardless of number of occupants or marital status of those living there.
– No person may have more than one vote.
– Business members do not have voting privileges.
Dues of the Association are collected annually and the rate shall be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors. Dues are payable in January with a grace period through March 31st, after which the membership is considered in arrears and voting privileges are suspended until dues are paid.
The boundaries of Lakewood Estates shall be defined as follows: Lake Maggiore on the north, Dr. Martin Luther King Street South (formerly Ninth Street South) on the east, 31st Street South on the west, and 54th Avenue South on the south.
The Lakewood Estates Civic Association does not condone any form of discrimination, whether on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, national origin or sexual orientation. In addition, the organization will actively pursue policies that minimize conflict and promote understanding between all groups of people.
Article III – Government
Lakewood Estates Civic Association shall be governed by a Board of Directors. The term of officers shall be two years. The elections will be held on a staggered system basis: In even-numbered years, the membership will elect the president, treasurer and a director. In odd-numbered years, the membership will elect the vice president, secretary and, if desired, a second director.
The Board of Directors shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and one or more directors. These officers are to be elected annually by the general membership by the staggered system. Only the elected officers may vote on matters before the Board.
A simple majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for doing business. Each board member is entitled to one vote.
Board members shall serve without compensation.
Any Board member who fails to attend more than two consecutive board meetings may be subject to removal.
Powers and duties of the Board shall include:
1. The appointment of all committees or chairpersons thereof, and the dissolution of any committee. This power can be delegated to the President. Committees shall derive their direction from the Board.
Any member may suggest the creation of an ad hoc committee for a particular purpose and may propose the leadership and membership of such committee, to be reviewed and voted on by the Board. The status of any committee shall be reviewed annually and no committee may continue from year to year without review and approval of the Board.
Chairpersons and other members of committees do not have voting privileges on the Board.
2. The appointment of all persons or organizations to serve the Association.
3. The filling of vacancies on the Board until the next election.
4. Interpretation of the By-Laws.
5. Establishment of a budget and the approval of non-budgeted expenditures.
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Board and shall perform such duties as directed by the Board.
The Vice President shall perform all duties as may be assigned by the President and shall be the presiding officer at meetings in the absence of the President.
The Secretary shall be the official custodian of all records of the Association, shall keep the minutes of the Association and the Board, shall send all official correspondence in the name of the Association, and shall give all required notices. The Secretary shall present minutes of meetings to the membership for approval and may also make the minutes available for membership review on the Association’s web site.
The Treasurer shall keep and be responsible for all funds of the Association and shall keep the membership records. All funds shall be deposited in an account in the name of the Lakewood Estates Civic Association and shall be withdrawn or disbursed only by the Treasurer or another member of the Board who is an authorized signatory. All monies received shall be immediately delivered to the Treasurer, and all bills shall also be paid by the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall ensure that tax identification is never inactive, updated appropriately (which also includes the Articles of Incorporation and the Association’s filing of its annual report with the Secretary of State) and in a timely manner with the State of Florida. The Treasurer shall provide regular reports of all transactions and prepare financial statements as directed by the Board.
Article IV – Meetings
Meetings of the membership shall be held quarterly but no less frequently than four times a year, including social events. Adequate written notice of meetings shall be provided to the membership.
Nominations for officers will be taken at the fall meeting and elections will be held at the winter meeting. Nominations for officers will be accepted from the floor during the winter election meeting.
Only active members can be nominated for office and only active members may vote.
Special meetings of the membership for any purpose may be called by:
– The President or, in the President’s absence, the Vice President, or
– The Secretary upon written request of ten percent (10%) of the membership but no fewer than 15 members. Written and/or email notice of all special meetings stating the time, place and objective shall be given to the membership at least five (5) days before such meeting.
Decisions at meetings by the membership shall be made by a quorum, defined as follows:
– For general business, at least 15 active members.
– For matters involving changes to the By-laws and/or changes to decisions formerly made by the membership, at least 25 members.
Article V – Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the 1st day of January and shall end on the 31st day of December.
Article VI – Procedure
Roberts Rule of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of all annual, regular and special meetings of the Association and the Board where applicable and where they are not inconsistent with the special rules of the Association.
Article VII – Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended from time to time by a quorum as defined above in Article IV.
Article VIII – Dissolution
In the event that the Association becomes inactive or dissolved, all monies in its possession shall be distributed to a tax-exempt community-oriented institution or organization approved by a majority of the members.
The foregoing By-laws were submitted to the general membership for review on October 24, 2006 and approved at a meeting of the membership on January 23, 2007.
Approved as written: _________________________ Amended on __________________
Secretary
Date: _____________________________________