VICTORIA PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION

 

Victoria Park Civic Association, Inc.

Post Office Box 4472

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33338-4472

 

BYLAWS

Herewith are the Bylaws, pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation of the Victoria Park Civic Association, Inc. (name change 1988) 
 

The general purpose of the Civic Association is to unify the residents of the Victoria Park area to further their common welfare, in the best interests of Victoria Park. 
 

SECTION 1 – BOUNDARIES 
 

The area of the community represented by the Association is in the city of Fort Lauderdale, bounded on the north by Sunrise Boulevard, the south by Broward Boulevard, the west by Federal Highway, and the east by those bodies of water known as Rio Navarro, Karen Canal, and Middle River, excluding Sunrise Key. 
 

SECTION 2 – MEMBERSHIP 
 

Membership in the Association is open to all residents of the area described in Section 1, above. Membership and voting eligibility require current payment of any annual dues that may be established by the membership for that category of membership. The Membership Year for the Association begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. The Fiscal Year begins on March 1 and ends on the last day of February. 
 

There are the following membership categories:

1.  Individual Member – any individual residing in the area described in Section 1.
2.  Family Member – one family, all of whom reside in the area described in Section 1.
3.  Business Member – open to organizations that conduct business activities in or near Victoria Park. This category of membership is non-voting.
4.  Associate Member – open to anyone with an interest in Victoria Park (such as past residents and absentee landlords). This category is non-voting. 

Voting eligibility: only Individual and Family Members, over eighteen years of age, are allowed to vote on resolutions and in elections of the Association. Eligible voting members must be physically present to vote. No other membership category is allowed to vote. 
 
 

SECTION 3 – MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS 
 

There will be a monthly meeting of the Association members on the first Wednesday of every month, with the exception of August, unless changed by vote of the membership.  
 

Special Meetings may be called by the President, a majority vote of the Directors, or a majority vote of the eligible voting membership present at the last meeting. Notice of a Special Meeting shall be in writing and sent by mail, or delivered personally, to each Member of the Association at least five days before the date of the meeting. 
 

At all meetings, at least twenty (20) voting members shall constitute a quorum. All questions shall be determined by majority vote, unless specified elsewhere in the Bylaws. 
 

SECTION 4 – OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 
 

a. Directors

• i. All corporate powers will be exercised by or under the authority of the Board of Directors which shall consist of the four (4) Officers described below, who will be elected annually by the voting members.
• ii. The affairs of the corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors subject to the approval of the membership and other limitations herein set forth. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to help ensure that the Association actively pursues its general purpose, according to the wishes of the voting membership, in accordance with the law and fiscal responsibility.

 

b. Officers

• i. President. There shall be a President elected annually by the voting membership who shall be the public voice of the Association and shall represent the organization in its dealings with the public and all authorities. The President shall conduct all meetings, except, in the President’s absence, the Vice President shall conduct the meeting. Should both be absent, the meeting would be conducted by the first in the following order: (1) Treasurer; (2) Secretary; (3) a Chairperson elected by the voting membership present at that meeting. 
   
• ii. Vice President. The Vice President will conduct necessary business in the absence of the President, and will implement special projects at the President’s request. 
   
• iii. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall maintain the financial records of the Association. 
   
• iv. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all membership meetings and directors’ meetings, and shall be custodian of all official records of the Association. 
   

c. Anything herein to the contrary not withstanding, the decisions regarding the affairs of the corporation shall be the primary responsibility of the membership. If at any time decisions of the membership conflict with the decisions of the Board of Directors, the decisions of the membership shall control. 
 

d. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the Association Members at the meeting held on the first Wednesday of February. Officers shall serve a one year term. No individual may hold an Officer position for more than two years consecutively, and no more than four (4) years in total. (voted a change 3/3/98) 
 

Election shall be by printed ballot, with provisions made for nominations from the floor. The Board and the Chairpersons of the Permanent Committees will nominate one or more people for each of the Officer positions, as Board-recommended candidates, and will encourage nominations from the floor. 
 

Should a vacancy occur on the Board for any reason, the Board will recommend replacements for election at the next Membership meeting (and will accept nominations from the floor at that time). The position must be filled at this Membership Meeting, assuming a quorum is achieved. 
 

An Officer and Director may be removed, with or without cause, by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at any monthly meeting, or any Special Meeting called for that purpose. A quorum for such a vote to remove an Officer and Director is fifty (50) voting members, or ten percent (10%) of the voting membership of the Association, whichever is greater. 
 

The Board of Directors shall have at least one annual meeting per year, and hold special meetings as necessary. Three (3) Directors shall constitute a quorum. 
 

SECTION 5 – COMMITTEES 
 

The following will be designated as Permanent Committees, unless added to or eliminated by the Association Membership:

• Newsletter Committee – tasked with working with the Publisher of the Victoria Park News to ensure the newsletter is an informative publication which provides residents news of the area. (task change voted 2/6/07)
• Public Safety Committee – tasked with emergency preparedness, fire-rescue and CERT matters, and is the Fire-Rescue Liaison. (name change voted 10/3/01, task change voted 1/5/05)
• Social Committee – tasked with improving the unity and friendships within the entire community through the planning and execution of social events.
• Aesthetics Committee – tasked with improving the Victoria Park aesthetic environment and image.
• Planning/Zoning Committee – tasked with communicating the Association Membership’s point of view regarding zoning issues to the appropriate agencies. This includes active polling of members on locally important issues. Planning activities to include updating Master Plan and communicating the position of contractors/developers to the Association. (changes voted 2/7/01)
• Traffic Committee – tasked with helping to implement the memberships’ wishes with regard to traffic-related issues.
• Membership Committee – tasked with increasing the paid membership to the Association, and with helping to increase active participation among eligible members.
• Children Committee – tasked with improving the health, recreation, education, and actives of the community youth.
• Welcome Committee – tasked with welcoming new residents within the Association’s boundaries. (added 2/7/01)
• Home Tour Steering Committee – tasked with all aspects of annual tour(s) to ensure a successful venture. (added 2/7/01)
• Finance Committee – tasked to complete a yearly audit of Association Finances and subsequently report to the Association. (added 2/7/01)
• Utilities Committee – tasked with power company, telephone company, and cable service company matters. (added 6/4/03)
• Crime Watch Committee – tasked with crime and police matters, and is the Police liaison. (added 1/5/05)
• Master Plan Committee – tasked with developing and implementing a comprehensive, on-going neighborhood improvement plan within the framework of our assets and needs as determined by the neighborhood’s residents. (added 9/5/07)

Ad Hoc Committees shall be formed from time to time, as voted by the Members. 
 

Committees will be made up of Members who volunteer to participate as committee members, and will serve at the pleasure of the membership. The President shall fill Chairperson vacancies as they occur, and may remove a Chairperson of a Committee at his or her discretion.  

SECTION 6 – AMENDMENTS 
 

The Bylaws may be amended by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members present at any monthly or Special meeting, with one week written notice to all members specifying the new Bylaws proposed. A quorum for a vote to amend the Bylaws shall be fifty (50) voting members, or ten percent (10%) of the voting membership, whichever is greater. 
 

SECTION 7 – PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE 
 

All meetings shall be guided by Robert’s Rules of Order, provided that they do not conflict with the Bylaws. The President may appoint a parliamentarian for any meeting, at his or her discretion. 
 

SECTION 8 – AUDIT 
 

The Treasurer’s books shall be audited annually during the month of April, by a committee of three (3) people recommended by the Board and approved by the Membership. In addition, the Treasurer shall prepare a quarterly cash flow analysis comparing total revenue vs. total cash flow for the period. (added 5/7/08) Interim audits may be requested by the membership. A report of any audit shall be given at the monthly Membership Meeting upon its completion. 
 

SECTION 9 
 

The foregoing have been reviewed by the Association’s Board of Directors on the 22nd day of March, 2009 and these Bylaws amend, supersede and replace in their entirety any and all previously adopted Bylaws. These Bylaws are effective immediately upon approval of the voting membership. 
 

SECTION 10 – EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS 
 

Any non-operating expense in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) (i.e., capital expenditure, charitable contribution) must be approved by a vote of the general membership. The proposed expenditure may only be voted upon after notification to the membership by either a mailing or publication in the Newsletter. (added 1/2/02, changes voted 2/4/04) 
 
 

The undersigned President and Secretary of the Corporation certify the above Bylaws this 1st day of April, 2009.

_______________________________________

Ted Fling

President

 

_______________________________________

Peggy Celano

Secretary