Association Bylaws
(Last updated July 2019)
I. NAME
The full name of this organization is the INDIAN MOUND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION which herein after shall be called IMNA.
II. PURPOSE AND POLICY
The purpose of IMNA is to improve the quality of life for residents living in its designated area by working with the existing agencies, organizations, schools, churches, businesses, governmental bodies and individuals for the benefit of the neighborhood as a whole, and for the preservation and protection of residential and community property values in the neighborhood.
Only issues of general neighborhood concern shall be voted upon by IMNA. IMNA will not, however, endorse or lend support to candidates for public office. Neither will IMNA endorse or lend support to ballot initiatives or tax increases; however, Board of Directors should not be restricted from having a public opinion regarding issues as they relate to the residents of Indian Mound Neighborhood so long as it is clearly stated not to be an official position of IMNA.
III. BOUNDARIES
The boundaries of IMNA shall be Independence Avenue on the South; Jackson Avenue on the West; Gladstone Boulevard on the North; and Belmont Avenue on the East.
Within the boundaries, IMNA shall be divided into four quadrants at Hardesty Avenue and St. John Avenue.
IV. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Any resident, property owner, or tenant of the legal voting age (18) living or operating a business within the boundaries of IMNA shall be entitled to membership. Any resident, property owner, or tenant of the legal voting age (18) living or operating a business less than one city block outside of IMNA boundaries shall be permitted to membership in IMNA if approved by a majority vote of The Board of Directors.
Any other person, regardless of residency, who acknowledges the purpose of IMNA, may be awarded an honorary membership by a majority vote of the General Membership.
Honorary members cannot vote or hold an office.
Individual Membership dues shall be $20.00 per year, and Household Membership dues shall be $25.00 per year, and become due in June of each year; however, should the member be over age 55, the annual membership dues will be reduced to $10.00 annually.
New memberships will be accepted throughout the year, but will not be pro-rated, and must be renewed each year, the month before the annual election. Business Memberships shall be $30.00 per year. Only paid members shall be able to vote. Members who have paid and attended at least 50% of the monthly meetings for a year prior to running may run for the Board of Directors.
Any person paid and qualified by these terms will be considered the “current membership.”
V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors, which herein after shall be called BOD, of IMNA shall be comprised of no less than four (4) offices; those being a President, either Vice President office, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Additional offices of Executive Vice President and Administrative Vice President may be filled, but are not required.
The BOD may include ex-officio members, duly appointed by the BOD as delegates. These delegates will represent, respectively, the four quadrants of IMNA and provide insight to the BOD, but do not have authority to vote on BOD matters or otherwise perform BOD acts or duties.
BOD’s shall serve two-year terms in office and not more than half of the board shall turn over each two-year cycle. The President and Treasurer shall be elected during odd numbered years and either Vice President/s and Secretary shall be elected during even numbered years.
A. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Election of officers shall be held annually during the July meeting. Only current paid members may nominate a candidate for the Board of Directors. To be nominated for a position on the IMNA Board of Directors, you must have been a paid member and present for at least 50% of the monthly meetings for a year prior to running for the BOD
1. Prior to the annual election, an Election Judge will be selected by the BOD, who is not nominated for an additional office or up for election during said election cycle.
2. The Election Judge will accept nominations from the floor and will conduct the election process and ensure fairness during the proceedings.
B. NUMBER OF TERMS OF OFFICE
Term shall mean two (2) years; no officer shall succeed himself to the same office for more than three (3) consecutive terms.
C. OFFICER VACANCIES
If a resignation or vacancy of the President occurs prior to July, the Executive Vice President shall assume his/her duties for the remainder of the term. If a resignation or vacancy of the Secretary or Treasurer occurs, the Administrative Vice President shall assume his/her duties for the remainder of the term. In the event that IMNA has no Executive or Administrative Vice Presidents, a general election will be held at the first monthly meeting following such a vacancy. A leave of absence of more than two (2) successive months shall constitute resignation, unless voted upon and approved by the BOD. Additionally, any member of the BOD may be removed from office by a super majority of the BOD or a super majority of the current membership. A BOD must be present for at least 75% of all monthly meetings or be subject for removal on grounds of office abandonment. If a member of the BOD has not participated in at least 75% of the meetings the remaining BOD must address removal of the delinquent member upon the 26th percentile mark of absence and provide to the current membership the BOD position for retention.
D. OFFICER DUTIES
1. PRESIDENT
The President shall be the presiding officer at all monthly meetings and meetings of the BOD. The President shall create ad hoc committees as needed, shall be an ex-officio member of all IMNA committees except nominating committees, and may appoint one of the BOD to sit in on committees in his/her place.
2. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
The Executive Vice-President shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties and shall preside at designated meetings in the absence of the President. Should the President resign prior to July, the Executive Vice President would assume that role and those duties.
3. SECRETARY
The Secretary shall be responsible for the accurate taking and reading of minutes of the preceding monthly meeting and the preceding BOD meeting. The Secretary shall be responsible for posting notices of meetings in the local newspaper, managing social media, and reserving the meeting place prior to the scheduled meeting time. In the event of the absence of the President, and no Executive Vice President is placed, the Secretary may officiate during the monthly meeting.
4. TREASURER
The Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of income and expenditures of IMNA and shall make the record available to the current membership and BOD as needed. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of IMNA’s financial records and petty cash fund. If the combined financial assets exceed $1,000.00, the Treasurer shall be bonded at IMNA’s expense. The Treasurer should be prepared to present members with information about IMNA owned properties and any pertinent financial status at each monthly meeting. The Treasurer shall be responsible for filing all necessary tax documents to the appropriate authorities.
5. ADMINISTRATIVE VICE PRESIDENT
The Administrative Vice President shall assist the Secretary and Treasurer in their performance of their duties and shall stand in at meetings in the absence of either officer.
VI. DELEGATES
IMNA’s four (4) quadrants shall be comprised of an individual delegate who lives or works within the boundaries of each territory.
A. APPOINTMENT OF DELEGATES
Interested candidates for delegates shall submit a letter of interest to the President, who will present worthy candidates, at a first-come-first-serve basis, to the full BOD. The President shall nominate worthy candidates for appointment by a majority vote of the BODs. Delegates must be reappointed each year during the general election in July. Candidates for the delegate position must be a paid member and present for at least 50% of the monthly meetings for a year prior to serving as a delegate.
B. NUMBER OF TERMS OF DELEGATES
Delegates shall serve one-year terms and must be reappointed each year.
C. DELEGATE DUTIES
Delegates are ex-officio members of the BOD and do not have the authority or permissions entrusted to elected officers. Delegates shall hold an open line of communication with the BOD regarding problems or questions that occur within their quadrant. Delegates may be allowed to represent IMNA’s interests at meetings and events, with the BOD approval. Delegates may not vote during BOD meeting actions.
VII. AD HOC COMMITTEES
The BOD may appoint members to standing committees. These committees shall be created in need for advising the BOD in the duties of their assigned committee.
VIII. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Expenditures or commitments of funds amounting to $100.00 or less may be made by a majority vote of the BOD. Expenditures or commitments of over $100.00 must be approved by a majority vote at a monthly membership meeting. All checks must be signed by the Treasurer and one other officer of IMNA.
IX. MEETINGS
A. MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monthly Meetings shall be held once a month, on a consistent day monthly, at a consistent time monthly, at a regular meeting location as as agreed upon by the BOD. Monthly Meetings are held the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the North-East Branch of the Kansas City Public Library, 6000 Wilson Ave., Kansas City, MO 64123. The monthly meeting shall be open to all members, guests, and residents of IMNA. In the event of a change in time or venue (i.e. Martin Luther King and Presidents’ Day holidays) members should be made aware of the new meeting time and/or place during the preceding monthly meeting, and also through social media within 48 hours of the meeting.
B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS
The Board of Directors shall be composed of all elected officers and the four delegates, and shall meet as needed to establish the priorities of IMNA. Board meetings should be made public and open to all who wish to attend. An agenda shall be made and used at all meetings.
C. VOTING PROCEDURES
Prior to conducting any business at a monthly meeting, the presiding officer shall be satisfied that a quorum of the active membership (minimum of 10% in attendance); no one shall be allowed to participate (vote) for ANY issue without active membership (current dues paid). Elections and business of IMNA shall be conducted according to parliamentary procedure. Decisions of IMNA shall be based on the majority vote, unless otherwise stated, at a monthly meeting. During a regularly scheduled election and in the event that a quorum is not present, all BODs up for election shall hold their positions until the first monthly meeting in which a quorum can be met.
XI. DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of IMNA, all properties and monies will be distributed to other not-for-profit organizations as agreed upon by a vote with a super-majority of the current BOD and by the current membership.
XII. AMENDMENTS
Amendments to IMNA bylaws must be submitted in writing at a monthly membership meeting and voted upon at the following monthly membership meeting.
Amendments must pass a 2/3 majority of current members. A quorum must be present.