Second Draft of proposed DEXMIL bylaws after initial review by Director Mitani. Still under construction. Hoping for presentation to membeership in April 2010. Still Under Construction.
ARTICLE I - NAME The name of this organization is Dexter Miller Community of Ann Arbor (DEXMIL). It is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Michigan
ARTICLE II - GOALS 1.Help neighbors discover ways they may help each other 2.Encourage the growth of community feeling within neighborhoods. 3.Help elderly and disabled people remain in their own homes rather than institutional housing.. 4.Help andencourage other neighborhoods to develop similar forms of services organization.
ARTICLE III – FUNCTIONS 1.Create and maintain a directory of members and the services each offers to the group. 2.Create a simplified timebank using scrip (DEXMILs) to represent time spent assisting each other. 3.Schedule several annual membership events such as picnics, garage sales, book exchanges, etc. 4.Make a special effort to meet the needs of elderly and disabled households. 5.Provide ormation to other neighborhood groups interested in similar developments.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP 1.Membership is open to residents of any household located in northwest Ann Arbor. 2.The unit of membership is by household regardless of the number of persons actively enrolled from a household.Each household is to pay an initial initioation fee plus annual dues as set by the Board of Directors, No household will be excluded from membership due to inability to pay dues, initiation fee,or provide services to others. 3.Each household is entitled to one vote on Community issues and one member of each household may serve on the Board of Directors if elected by the membership as a whole. 4.Decisions by the Board of Directors may be over-riden by a majority of all current members at a general meeting ora special meeting called by at least 20% of the member households or a poll of all member households.. 5.Except in emergencies, the general membership shall be notified of a board meeting at least ten days in advance of that meeting. Notification may be by email, postal mail, ortelephone. 6.Members may file a grievance with the Board of Directors and shall receive notice of any actions taken to resolve the issue within two weeks..
ARTICLE V – GOVERNANCE 1.When possible at least one meeting of the general membership shall be held each calendar year, preferably in the spring. The purpose of such meetings is to allow general discussion of the Community’s operations 2.At this meeting a quorumwill consist of representatives from at least 30 % of currently enrolled households. 3.Notice of the general meeting may be by email, postal mail, ortelephone. 4.Special issues may be brought up and presented for vote if they are announced two weeks in advance of the general meeting.Any enrolled householdnot present at the meeting may vote on such issues within one week after electronic publication of the meeting. summary
ARTICLE VI –BOARD OF DIRECTXORS AND OFFICERS 1..Day to day operation and policies of the organization are handled by a six person board of directors two of whom are elected each December for a three year term. Thetwo candidates receiving the most votes cast become the new Directors. 2.Members of the board elect a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary in late December or early January following the outcome of the general election.Two of these offices may be filled by one person, if desired.To enhance continuity over successive years, when possible officers should be appointed for two or three year staggered terms. 3,The board of directors shall: meet at least every second monthat a time and place announced to the overall membership by email, postal mail, or telephone.Members of the community may attend board meetings and offer comments but have no vote on board decisions
ARTICLE VII. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS 1.In November of each year the Secretary will remind the membership of upcoming elections and ask for nominations for two open positions on the Board of Directors.Any member in good standing may be nominated by others or themselves. 2.After confirming the willingness of those nominated to run for office, the Secretary is to announce the candidates on the first of December and ask to be notified of each households preferences.Results of the election are to be announced on or about December 15.th.
ARTICLE VII - RULES OF ORDER Meetings will be conducted informally when possible but Robert’s Rules of Order, shall govern the conduct of any meeting when serious procedural issues arise. .A quorum of the Board exists when at least four members are present, at a face to face meeting or participating in an email discussion.For a vote to be taken by email, at least seven days must elapse between posing the issue and completing the vote tally.A majority vote of the Boardrequires half of the number of existing board members at that time.In the event of a tie vote, the President may cast an extra deciding vote.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS Amendments may be proposed by motion of any member in good standing at any board or general membership meeting or by discussion and poll of the entire membership through telephone,postal,or email communication. .If the motion is seconded and passed, all members shall be notified of the proposed amendment at least three weeks before the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors..Approval of any amendment shall require atwo-thirds majority of those meeting..The attacxhed Operational Procedures are NOTby laws and may be changed by simple majority vote of the Board. Of Directors.
ARTICLE X - FINANCIAL 1.The fiscal year of the chapter shall be January 1 to December 31. 2.The Treasurer shall issue an annual financial report to all members during December of each year. 3.Dues shall be set by the governing board at the beginning of each year. 4.In the event that the chapter dissolves or ceases to function any remaining funds will be donated to the City of Ann Arbor.
ARTICLE XI - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE 1.Individuals or a group of members shall have the right to present signed or unsigned grievances for action and decision by the Board of Directors. 2.Grievances shall be included on the agenda for the next noard meeting. If it is agreed that they should be pursued, the President shall appoint a committee of three persons to investigate, and report by email or phone to the full membership and to the next regular meeting or at a special meeting of the board. 3.Officers shall not serve on a grievance committee if a conflict of interest is present.
ARTICLE XII – COMMITTEES The Governing Board may create a membership committee, a program committee, a newsletter committee, a nominating committee and such other committees as the governing board may from time to time determine. The duties and functions of such committees shall be determined by the governing board. All committees shall report on their responsibilities and actions as requested.
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Operational Procedures
As the Board of Directors agrees on various operational procedures, they are recorded and amended here periodically.These procedures are listed with the bylaws for convenience but are not a part of the bylaws.They may be modified by a simple vote of the Board.
1. Northwest Ann Arbor is currently defined as the city of Ann Arbor west of Main Street and north of Jackson–Huron streets.
2.Directors meet at least six times a year. Each Director serves as chair one of the standing committees with assistance from two or three additional committee members appointed from the general membership. Five standing committees are: Directory, Events, Finances, Membership, and Publicity..
3All members are invited to attend meetings of the Board of Directors and may participate in discussions but do not have a vote. Decisions by the Board of Directors may be over-riden by a majority of all current members (not only those attending) at a general meeting or a special meeting called by at least 20% of the member households.
4.Each Director is entitled to one DEXMIL for each bimonthly meeting attended. Any Director with more than two sequential unexplained absences from regular Board meetings will be considered to have resigned and an election will be held to fill that vacancy.
5.All expenditures by Directors must be reported to the full Board at the next meeting or by email. Expenditures of more than $75 must be approved by the board in advance.
6.Members may be continued as inactive members for up to 13 months while not paying current dues. If two members in the same household separate, each may continue membership for 12 additional months under a single dues payment but with no additional DEMILsprovided.
7.The Board of Directors is to be informed of any correspondence received by or sent on behalf of the Dexter-Miller Community. Correspondence involving commitments of support to another organization must be approved by the Board before being sent.
