Bylaws

Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

Bylaws

revised as of November 2018

1.MISSION STATEMENT

The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents of Mid-City New Orleans. MCNO shall be made up of its Members and a Board of Directors shall govern its operation.

1.1       Mid-City Defined

Pontchartrain Expressway to City Park Ave., to N. Carrollton Ave., to Orleans Ave., to Broad St., to the Pontchartrain Expressway.

1.2       Areas of Interest

The Board may define Areas of Emphasis within these boundaries or Areas of Interest adjoining these boundaries.

2.MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all Mid-City residents who care about the Mid-City neighborhood.  MCNO shall actively recruit members and strive to achieve a membership which reflects the diversity of the neighborhood.

2.1       Dues

Membership dues shall be established by the Board. Dues may be waived by the Board in cases of economic hardship or to honor extraordinary service to the community.

2.3.1 – Any party subject to revocation or denial of membership may re-apply no earlier than one (1) year from the date of their revocation or denial.

2.3.2 – Any application of a party whose membership has previously been revoked or denied, must be reviewed by the Board of Directors prior to admittance to the general membership. Bylaws 2.3 and 2.3.1 shall apply to this review in the event the board seeks to deny the membership application.

3.BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board is composed of Directors elected by the Membership.

3.1       Size of Board

The Board shall have at least seven (7) and no more than eleven (11) members.

3.2       Compensation

Directors serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable documented expenses on behalf of MCNO.

The Board of Directors, prior to any election, shall designate one Director to serve as Election Conductor. The Election Conductor’s term as Director must not be up for vote in the election over which they would preside.

3.4       Terms

Directors serve for two years. Directors may be elected to serve more than one term. Terms shall be staggered such that approximately half the Board shall be elected each year.

Officers conduct the business of the organization. Officers are Directors elected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at the first Board meeting of each calendar year. No Director may hold more than one office simultaneously. The Officer positions on the Board of Directors are President, Chairperson, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

3.7.1    President

The President serves as the primary contact and representative for the organization and runs the day to day management of MCNO.  Additionally, the President prepares Board meeting agendas with the Chairperson and oversees activities of the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and any and all MCNO staff, consultants, and/or contractors.  The President is authorized to sign checks in accordance with the annual budget or as approved by the Board. In the absence of the Chairperson, the President presides over any MCNO meeting.

3.7.2    Chairperson

The Chairperson presides over and manages all MCNO meetings and assists the President as required. Additionally, the Chairperson serves as a contact and representative for the organization.

3.7.3    Vice-President

The Vice-President assists the President as required and presides over all MCNO meetings in the absence of the Chairperson and President. If the President or Chairperson is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of office, the Vice-President shall assume these responsibilities until the office is filled. Additionally, the Vice-President also serves as a contact for the organization

3.7.4    Secretary

The Secretary records minutes of all meetings and is responsible for conducting general correspondence on behalf of MCNO, and for maintaining the files of the organization.

3.7.5    Treasurer

The Treasurer maintains the organization’s checking account at the federally insured financial institution approved by the Board, and the organization’s financial records. Additionally, the Treasurer is responsible for preparing a monthly financial report for the Board, and an annual budget to be approved by the Board. Checks are to be signed by the Treasurer in accordance with the annual budget or as approved by the Board. Fiscal year is to be the same as the calendar year.

3.8       Committees

The Board, at its discretion, may create permanent and/or ad hoc Committees.  Committees, chaired by an Officer or Director and composed of MCNO members and other interested parties, are the primary means by which the work of MCNO should be accomplished.
Committee chairs are authorized to speak on behalf of MCNO with regard to matters concerning the committee. Committees may address general issues across the neighborhood or geographic areas within the neighborhood. Committees should establish their own meeting schedule and means of communication and report to the Board regularly.

3.10     Liability of Directors and Officers

Directors shall not be liable to MCNO or its members for money
damages except to the extent that it is proved that the Director actually received an improper benefit or profit; or a judgment or other final adjudication is entered based on a finding that the person’s action or failure to act was the result of deliberate dishonesty or was committed in bad faith.

3.11     Actions Requiring Board Vote

No Officer or Director may commit MCNO funds, otherwise allocate MCNO resources, or take an official position on behalf of MCNO on an issue affecting Mid-City without first receiving authority by a vote of the Board of Directors.

4.MEETINGS

4.1       General Membership Meetings

General membership meetings are to be held at least quarterly with reasonable notice of the time, place, and with the agenda of each meeting published in advance.

4.1.1    Voting

Unless otherwise noted, all decisions made by the members are to be made by simple majority, that is, by vote of more than half of the eligible voters present.

4.2       Board of Directors Meetings

The Board is to meet at least quarterly at a regularly established time and place with the agenda of each meeting published in advance.

4.2.1    Emergency Board of Directors Meetings

Emergency Board meetings may be called by any one (1) Officer or three (3) Directors with reasonable notice provided to each Director.

4.2.2    Email Votes

Any Director may make a motion for an email vote. For email votes, all Board members are considered present and able to vote, therefore, a simple majority of all current board members is needed for the motion to carry.

Such motions for email voting must be sent to the MCNO Board email.  The body of the email shall include a discussion of the issues, the Board member’s position, the proposed motion, and an explanation of why an email vote is necessary and appropriate.

After the motion for an email vote is made, there will be a two (2) business day discussion period before a vote is called.  Directors will then have one (1) business day to reply to the email in support, opposition, or abstention. Directors need not wait until the third day to cast their vote, however.

The Secretary shall record the results of all email votes and note them in the Minutes of the next Board meeting.

If a Board member will be unable to review email routinely (i.e. during a vacation) they must notify the email discussion group with dates they are not available and they will be excluded from any votes that come up during that period.

4.2.3    Democratic Principles

Except as these Bylaws otherwise provide, all meetings shall be conducted according to The Democratic Rules of Order.

4.2.4    Voting

Unless otherwise noted, all decisions by the Board are to be made by simple majority, that is, by vote of more than half of the Directors present.

4.2.5    Quorum

A majority of the Board must be present at a meeting to establish a quorum for a vote.

When a Board member will be absent from a Board meeting, he or she may give an attending Board member his or her written proxy, allowing the proxy to vote on the absent Board member’s behalf.

4.2.6    Meeting Attendance

Directors must attend at least sixty-six percent (66%) of Board meetings per year. If a Board member fails to meet attendance requirements, a Board Removal vote must be taken at the next Board of Directors meeting, according to the process set forth in bylaw 3.6.A. Chair must notify absentee Director of the upcoming vote in writing or by email at least 14 calendar days in advance.

4.3       Meetings Public

General Membership Meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.  Board of Directors  meetings are open to all MCNO members. Meetings and records of finances, membership, and minutes of MCNO meetings shall be open to inspection by any member.

5.CHANGES TO BYLAWS

These bylaws may be changed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board and a vote of the majority of the Membership present at a general membership meeting or by majority vote of the entire Membership conducted via mail or electronic mail referenda. Notice of a change to the bylaws must be published at least fourteen (14) days prior to a vote by the Membership and the notice must include a summary of changes. The Board may approve policies which extend or clarify these bylaws as long as they do not alter or contradict the bylaws themselves.

6.STANDING RULES

Standing rules are the procedures or general policies not included in MCNO’s bylaws. They cannot be in conflict with the bylaws. Unlike bylaws, standing rules can be changed or amended at any time, with a majority vote of the board. When the MCNO board adopts or changes rules, they will be posted here.