The Bylaws of the Ravenswood Neighbors Association

Article I 

Purpose 

Section 1.1 – Name 

The name of this organization shall be Ravenswood Neighbors Association (hereafter referred to as “the Association”). 

Section 1.2 – Mission Statement, History and Goals 

The Ravenswood Neighbors Association is a residents-driven, non-political organization that seeks to promote the well-being, safety, vitality, and identity of our community by fostering and encouraging stronger relationships between residents, local businesses, and other neighborhood organizations; sharing news and information throughout our network; and promoting local initiatives and programs. 

The Ravenswood Neighbors Association was founded in 2015 out of the desire of then Alderman Ameya Pawar’s desire to grow neighborhood organizations in the 47th Ward.  

As an organization, the Association has five primary goals: 

• To serve as a network of residents, neighborhood organizations, businesses, and local government for the purposes of information sharing and strengthening community relationships; 

• To encourage and foster the development of block clubs and other organizations within the community; 

• To actively promote public safety and security within the community; 

• To sustain connections between residents and local businesses for the purposes of fostering economic growth and opportunity within the community; and, 

• To serve as a voice for residents and businesses in regards to community matters and concerns. 

The Association is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

Section 1.3 Boundaries 

The boundaries of the Association are as follows: 

• North: Lawrence Avenue (4800 North) 

• South: Montrose Avenue (4400 North) 

• East: Ashland Avenue (1600 West) 

• West: Damen Avenue (2000 West) 

The boundaries of the Association are understood to encompass both sides of the streets that form the borders of the Association. 

Article II 

Membership and Voting Rights 

Section 2.1 – Members 

“Members” are people who may make their primary residence within the Association boundaries as described in Section 1.3 or outside and make financial contributions to the Association. Members can be elected to serve on the Advisory Council and on the Executive Committee as defined in Article 3. Members are also eligible to create and serve as Committee chairs. 

Section 2.2 – Friends 

“Friends” are people who reside inside or outside of the Association boundaries as well as businesses and other organizations inside or outside of the Association boundaries, but are not making financial contributions to the Association.  

Section 2.3 – Member Benefits and Voting Rights 

Each Member is entitled to Member benefits as defined by the Executive Committee of the Advisory Council annually. Each Member shall be entitled to one voting ballot on the matter of Advisory Council elections, subject to the rules of Article 3. 

Section 2.4 – Membership Dues

Membership dues are paid monthly. Their amount will be set forth by a resolution of the Advisory Council and approved by majority vote. 

Article III 

Governance and Advisory Council 

Section 3.1 – Governance and General Powers 

The Advisory Council shall be the governing body of the Association and shall manage its affairs. The Advisory Council shall have full authority to undertake any action in furtherance of the purposes of the Association, provided such action is consistent with the by-laws of the Association. 

The Advisory Council shall consist of between three (3) and nine (9) members (hereafter referred to as “Council Members”). 

Section 3.2 – Qualifications and Advisory Council Composition 

Any Member of the Association as defined in Article 2 in good standing who is willing and able to serve if elected shall be eligible for nomination and election as a Council Member. Candidates must review and agree to the expectations for Council Members as specified in Section 3.4 prior to nomination. 

Section 3.3 – Tenure and Election

Advisory Council members serve a two-year tenure and announce their decisions to remain in their position at the October Advisory Council meeting.   Current Advisory Council members put up new Members to the Advisory Council for consideration.   The Advisory Council votes by majority whether to nominate the new Advisory Council members for Association Member ratification.  Ballots shall be sent to all Association Members, as defined in Section 2.1; a majority vote of ballots completed confirms appointment of new Advisory Council Members.

Section 3.4 – Expectations of Council Members 

All Members who agree to serve on the Advisory Council must agree to the following expectations prior to nomination and election: 1. To serve for a term of two years. 2. To serve on at least one committee during this tenure. 3. To actively promote the interests and public image of the Association. 4. To attend a minimum of three (3) out of four (4) quarterly meetings to be held in the months specified in Section 3.5. 5. To attend the April quarterly meeting each year. 6. To participate in the recruiting of prospective new Advisory Council members on an annual basis. 

Section 3.5 – Quarterly Meetings 

Meetings of the Advisory Council shall be held four (4) times a year in April, July, October, and January. 

Special meetings of the full Advisory Council may be called by the President or any two Council Members. 

Committees will set their own meeting times and expectations for their committees. Committees will report on their activities quarterly before the full Advisory Council. 

Section 3.6 – Quorum 

One half of the Advisory Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Advisory Council. The act of a majority of the Council Members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Advisory Council except where otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws. If less than half of the Advisory Council  are present at a meeting, then the Council Members present may adjourn the meeting and propose a future time, date, and place for another meeting. 

Section 3.7 – Political Activity 

The Association, being a non-political entity, shall not have on the Advisory Council any political office-holder, candidate for political office, or political appointees. 

Article IV 

Executive Committee and Officers 

Section 4.1 – Executive Committee

The Advisory Council will select from among its members an Executive Committee consisting of a total of three (3) Officers as defined in Section 4.2 that will be responsible for providing leadership for the Advisory Council and, by extension, the Association. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers as defined in Section 4.2 and shall carry on the ordinary business of the Association between the Advisory Council meetings and shall act in an emergency if a special meeting cannot reasonably be convened. The President as defined in Section 4.6 shall serve as the Chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.2 – Officers

The Officers of the Executive Committee shall be a President, Secretary, and a Treasurer. Only Members of the Association are eligible to serve as Officers.

Section 4.3 – Election and Term of Office

The Officers of the Executive Committee shall be elected each year by and from among the members of the Advisory Council at the October Advisory Council meeting. The newly elected Officers shall take their offices immediately.

Officers shall serve two-year terms on the Executive Committee.  An Officer may not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position, except in the case that there is at least one year in between the sets of terms during which the Officer occupies that position; or in the case that the Advisory Council does not elect a new Member for the position. 

Section 4.4 – Vacancies 

The President will appoint Members to Officer positions and Members of the Advisory Council in the event that positions become vacant during the middle of a term. Appointed Officers and Members of the Advisory Council will be expected to fill the position for the remainder of the term. If the President position becomes vacant during the middle of a term, then the Treasurer will assume the President position and will appoint a Member to serve in the Treasurer position for the remainder of the term. 

Section 4.5 – Removal 

Any Council Member, Officer or otherwise, may be removed by the Advisory Council for just cause after an appropriate hearing and whenever in its judgment the best interest of the Advisory Council would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.  Advisory Council members may be removed if two or more fellow Advisory Council members bring a complaint to the President and that issue is not resolved within one month.  A special meeting of the entire Advisory Council will be called and a majority vote to decide on removal.  

Section 4.6 – President 

The President shall in general perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Advisory Council from time to time. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Members and the Advisory Council. 

Section 4.7 – Treasurer

In the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her inability to perform his or her prescribed duties, the Treasurer shall perform the duties of the President and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions and responsibilities of the President. The Treasurer shall perform duties pertaining to financial records, banking, and reporting on income and expenses of the association.  The Treasurer shall ensure that records are up to date to present these to the Advisory Council at each quarterly meeting. The Treasurer shall be responsible for general financial oversight, funding, fundraising and sales of products, services and fees of association members, financial planning and budgeting, financial reporting, banking, book keeping and record keeping. Given these responsibilities, the Treasurer shall act as an information and reference point for the Executive Committee and other committee members: clarifying financial implications of proposals; confirming legal requirements; outlining the current financial status; and retrieving relevant documentation.

Section 4.8 – Secretary

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Members, the Executive Committee, and the Advisory Council, shall keep a record of the attendance dates of the election, the expiration of terms or resignation of the Council Members, and shall ensure that all notices are duly given in accordance with the Bylaws. The Secretary shall in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Advisory Council.

Article V 

Committees 

Section 5.1 – Committees 

In addition to the Executive Committee as defined in Section 4.1, other Committees will be the primary forums for implementing Association initiatives and performing the work of the Advisory Council. Committees may consist of Members and Friends as defined in Article II. The Advisory Council may establish such other committees as it deems necessary or appropriate. The Advisory Council must officially approve new committees during any of the quarterly meetings during the year. Currently there are five committees: Planning & Development, Greening, Membership,Events, Communications

Each Council Member must serve on at least one committee.

Section 5.2 – Committee Chairs and Membership 

Any Member or Friend may serve as the Chair of any committee other than the Executive Committee. The Chair of each of the committees shall be selected from among the members of the committee. Members of committees shall be recruited by the respective Chairs of the committee. 

Section 5.3 – Term of Office 

The term of office for each standing committee member is one calendar year, at which time, the committee shall be reviewed, renewed or dissolved by the Advisory Council at the October meeting. The committee chair shall also be reconfirmed as chair or removed from their role by the Advisory Council at the October meeting.  

Section 5.4 – Rules Each committee may adopt rules for its own governance not inconsistent with these Bylaws or with rules adopted by the Board.

_{Article VI} 

Meeting of Members 

Section 6.1 – Annual Meeting The Association shall hold an Annual Meeting of Members in March of each year. The meeting shall be open to the general public. The purposes of this meeting shall be: 

1) To inform Membership and the general public about the state of the Association, the actions taken in the last year, and plans for the coming year. 

2) To announce members of the Advisory Council, Committee chairs and to invite neighbors to get involved in the Association.

Section 6.2 – Execution and Notice of Meeting 

The serving Secretary of the Executive Committee shall organize and execute this meeting. 

The Secretary shall propose, at each January’s Advisory Council meeting, a date for the Annual Meeting. This date is to be voted on by the Advisory Council and made public. The Secretary also shall ensure that all reasonable efforts (via email, social media and flyers) are made to inform both Members and the general public about the Annual Meeting no less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. 

The Secretary shall enlist leaders from the Advisory Council to update Members and the general public about the state of the Association, the actions taken in the last year, and plans for the coming year. 

Article VII 

General Procedures 

Section 7.1 – General Procedures 

At all meetings of the Advisory Council, Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the meeting, except where those rules conflict with these Bylaws. With respect to interpretation of these Bylaws, the decision of the Advisory Council shall control and be binding. 

Section 7.2 – Proxy Voting 

There shall be no voting by proxy at any meeting. 

Article VIII 

Amendments to Bylaws 

Section 8.1 – Amendments to Bylaws 

These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed, and new Bylaws adopted, by a majority of the Advisory Council present at any regular meeting or at any special meeting, provided a minimum of 30 days’ notice was given to all Members. Such notice shall state the intention to alter, amend, or repeal and adopt new bylaws at said meeting. Such notice shall include a quotation of the section or sections of the Bylaws that will be affected and shall set forth, with specificity, any new provisions or substitute language that is proposed. 

Article XIII 

Dissolution Section 9.1 – Dissolution 

The Association may be dissolved only with authorization by its Advisory Council given at a special meeting called for that purpose and upon a two-thirds vote of the whole Advisory Council. Notice must be given to the membership within thirty (30) days of this scheduled meeting via email, social media and flyers. 

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