| EARN BYLAWS |
| The EARN ZONE of TRANSITION |
GOVERNMENT LINKS
East Allentown Rittersville
Neighborhood Association
Neighborhood Association
Dennis L. Pearson, President
Name:
Email:
Constitution and Bylaws of the East
Allentown - Rittersville Neighborhood
Association, Inc.
***** Approved by the Neighborhood Board
of Directors ---- February 12, 1981
ARTICLE 1 --- Name and Boundaries
Section 1 --- This association shall be named,
known and identified as East
Allentown/Ritttersville Neighborhood
Association, Inc.; hereafter referred to as EARN.
(Passed by neighborhood Board of Directors ---
July 13, 1993 --- Amendment replaces all former
references to EARN 27 in bylaws)
Section 2 --- The officials policies, positions
and opinions of EARN shall not be established
or determined by any organization other than its
official membership or its agent(s) --- The
Neighborhood Board of Directors.
Section 3 --- All activities of EARN shall be
conducted in the name of EARN.
Section 4 --- EARN may operate and recruit
membership in a geographical territory
comprising the 14th and 15th wards of
Allentown ... ( Passed by the neighborhood
Board of Directors --- 4/8/93 )
ARTICLE II --- Purpose and Function
Section 1 --- EARN may recommend any
action, policy or comprehensive plan to the
City, School District, County, State, Federal
Government or any agency or business affecting
the livability of the neighborhood including but
not limited to: land use, zoning, housing,
community facilities , education, human
resources, public safety, social and recreational
programs, traffic and transportation,
environmental quality, open space and parks. (
Passed by the Board of Directors --- 4/8/93 )
Section 2 --- EARN shall assist City, School
District, County, State and Federal governments
in determining priority needs for the
neighborhood. ( Passed by the Board of
Directors --- 4/8/93)
Section 3 --- EARN may review items for
inclusion in City, School District, County, State
and Federal Budgets and make recommendations
relating to proposed expenditures in these
respective budgets for direct or indirect
neighborhood improvement. (Passed by the
Board of Directors --- 4/8/93)
Section 4 --- Undertake to manage projects as
may be agreed upon or contracted with public or
private agencies.
Section 5 --- Engage in comprehensive planning
on matters affecting the livability of the
neighborhood when carried out by a planning
committee representative of the geographic areas
and of the various interests relating to our
community.
ARTICLE III --- Membership
Section 1 --- The membership of this
neighborhood association is open to any
individual resident, property owner, business,
professional, industrialists, or representatives of
non-profit organizations located within the
neighborhood boundaries.
Section 2 --- No denial of membership shall be
due to race, religion, creed, sex, color, physical
handicap, or national origin.
ARTICLE IV --- Dues and Funding
Section 1 --- The charging of dues or
membership fees shall not be required for
membership or voting.
Section 2 --- Voluntary dues, social events and
affairs, contributions, contracts, grants or
subscriptions to newsletters may be used by
this group as sources of income.
Section 3 --- A voluntary dues structure can be
established in an amount which shall be
determined or suggested by the neighborhood
Board of Directors and approved by the general
membership.
ARTICLE V --- Organization
Section 1 --- This association shall be comprised
of the General Membership, Officers, Board of
Directors, Block Captains and whatever
Committees as may be formed by the
association.
ARTICLE VI --- General Membership Meetings
Section 1 --- EARN General Membership
Meetings shall be established by the EARN
Board of Directors upon the recommendation of
the President of EARN. (Amended 3/16/87)
Section 2 --- When conditions warrant, the
President subject to the approval of the Board
of Directors can suspend or change the date of
any regularly scheduled meeting in any given
month.
Section 3 --- These bylaws do not prohibit the
President or the Board of Directors of this
association from conducting EARN General
Membership Meetings (routinely or
occasionally) in joint session with General
Membership meetings of other neighborhood
groups.
Section 4 --- The date, place and time of
scheduled neighborhood meetings shall be
advertised generally throughout the
neighborhood by publication of a neighborhoood
newsletter or a release of neighborhood meeting
information to the press.
Section 5 --- Special meetings of the General
Membership shall be called by the President at
such times as he/she may deem necessary or
upon written request signed by three (3)
members of the Board of Directors, or upon
written request signed by ten(10) members of
this association.
Section 6 --- Special meetings of the General
Membership shall be limited to a specific
problem for which it was called.
Section 7 --- All meetings of the General
Membership shall be open to the public,
government officials and the press.
Section 8 --- The standing order of this
association is that General Membership
meetings should be conducted in an open town
hall type of manner; that, the formal style
business meeting should be utilized on limited
occasions.
Section 9 --- Those members present at any
General Membership Meetings constitute a
quorum.
Section 10 -- A simple majority shall be required
to pass any motion made at any meeting of the
General Membership unless otherwise provided
herein.
ARTICLE VII --- Citizen Based Boards or
Coalition Representatives of the EARN Board
of Directors
Section 1 --- The EARN Board of Directors
shall appoint upon the recommendation of the
EARN President as many representatives,
delegates or alternate representatives and
delegates that may be needed to adequately
represent the interests of the neighborhood on
Citizen Based Boards or Coalitions formally
recognized in timely fashion by the EARN
Board of Directors for neighborhood
membership and neighborhood participation.(
Amended 9/30/87)
Section 2 --- The EARN Board of Directors
upon the recommendation of the EARN
President shall appoint as many representatives
and delegates or alternate representatives and
delegates that may be required or needed to
represent the interests ofthe neighborhood on
national, state, regional or community based
oriented committees or boards as would be
recognized in timely fashion by the EARN
Board of Directors for neighborhood
membership and participation. (Amended
9/30/87)
Section 3 --- Neighborhood delegates and
representatives or alternate delegates or
representives on Citizen based boards or
coalitions or national, state, regional or
community based issue oriented committees or
boards shall inform the EARN Board of
Directors and General Membership as to
developments occuring within their area of
responsibility. ( Amended 9/30/87)
ARTICLE VIII --- Block Captains
Section 1 --- The definition of "block
associations" as used in these bylaws shall mean
a group of people organized within the
boundaries of one or more city blocks for the
purpose of considering and acting upon common
concerns affecting block livability.
Section 2 --- Block area boundaries which are
applicable to EARN are shown on exhibit B.
These boundaries reflect an effort to better serve
and reflect the needs of the diverse block
associations of this neighborhood.
Section 3 --- Block Captains shall be appointed
by the neighborhood Board of Directors from
within each block association to distribute
neighborhood meeting notices and newsletters,
to call neighbors about special meetings or
important information, and to report problems
and news back to the neighborhood board and
membership.
Section 4 --- Special meetings of the Block
Captains shall be called by the President at such
times as he/she may deem necessary.
ARTICLE IX --- Officers
Section 1 --- The officers of this association
shall consist of a President, one or more Vice
Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such
other officers as may be deemed necessary by
the Board.
Section 2 --- Any resident of the EARN prime
service area who is 18 and above is eligible to
serve the neighborhood as an officer. However,
the following qualities should be present in any
individual entrusted with the office of President.
1. The President should be both a community
leader and a representative of the neighborhood.
2. The President should be a person with
adequate time to devote to the operations of the
organization.
3. The President should be a person generally
interested in enhancing or maintaining
neighborhood livability and cognizant and not
insensitive to the concerns of the poor,
disadvantaged and those on a fixed income
residing in the neighborhood.
4. The President should be a person whose
personal strength and leadership ability will
guarantee organized meetings, adequate planning,
and proper goverance. (Passed by the
Neigborhood Board of Directors --- July 13,
1993)
Section 3 --- The officers and Board of
Directors of this association shall be elected by
the General Membership in open election during
November ... Balloting shall be performed by
secret ballot.
Section 4 --- The term of all elected officer
positions shall be one(1) year, or in each case,
until their respective successors are elected and
installed.
Section 5 --- A slate of nominees shall be
presented for all elected positions at the
September meeting of the Board of Directors.
The slate shall be prepared by a nominating
Committee appointed by the President in July
with the approval of the Board. Additional
nominations will be received from the floor at
the October meeting and closed at that time.
Also, nominees can be presented upon petition
signed by twenty-five (25) members of the
association prior to the time nominations close.
Section 6 --- A simple majority of the members
voting shall be required to elect nominees for all
elected positions.
Section 7 --- Any officer elected by the
membership may be removed at anytime by an
affirmative vote of 2/3rds of the Board of
Directors. Any vacancy occuring in any Office
or Directorate of the Corporation, other than a
vacancy resulting from normal expiration of a
term of office, shall be filled by the Board of
Directors by an affirmative vote of a quorum
present at such a meeting which shall be held not
sooner than thirty (30) days after written notice
of the vacancy has been mailed to all members.
Section 8 --- The President shall be the principal
officer of this association. It shall be the duty of
the President to preside over all neighborhood
meetings and deliberations of the General
Membership, Board of Directors, and Block
Captains and to perform such other tasks as
shall properly be designated and directed by the
Board. (Passed by the Neighborhood Board of
Directors --- July 13, 1993)
Section 9 --- It shall be the duty of the Vice
President to perform the duty of the Chair in the
event of the President's absence or disability. In
the case of multiple Vice Presidents, the Vice
president of highest rank as determined by the
Board shall perform the duties and exercise the
power of the chairperson. The Vice President
shall respectively have such powers and
perform such duties as may be described by the
Board of Directors or the President.
Section 10 --- The duties of the Secretary shall
be those indicated by the title as well as those
established by these bylaws and such other
duties as may be properly prescribed by the
Board. The Secretary shall keep accurate
minutes of all meetings.
Section 11 -- The Treasurer shall have the
custody of the association funds and securities
and shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in a book belonging
to the association and shall be responsible for
depositing all the monies in the name and to the
credit of the association as may be designated by
the Board of Directors. He/She shall be
responsible for the disbursement of funds of the
association in accordance with the directions of
the Board of Directors, and shall render to the
Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, ( or
when the Board of Directors so requires) an
account of all his/her transactions as treasure and
of
the financial condition of the association. The
Board shall determine when the financial
condition of the Corporation makes it necessary
to bond the treasurer. (Passed by the
Neighborhood Board of Directors --- July 13,
1993)
ARTICLE X --- The Board of Directors
Section 1 --- The Board of Directors shall be
composed of all Officers of this organization as
stated in Article IX - section 1 and 12 delegates
elected to four (4) four year terms. A staggered
program for election of the Board of Directors
shall be implemented upon adoption of these
Bylaws. ( the start up process shall see three
delegates elected to 1 year terms, 3 delegates to
two year terms, 3 delegates to three year terms
and 3 delegates to full 4 year terms.)
Section 2 --- The Past President, Block
Captains, and CNO Issue Committee and Board
delegates shall sit with the neighborhood Board
as ex-official members.
(Section needs to be updated with provisions
provided in Article VII - CNO was dissolved in
1987)
Section 3 --- The conduct of business including
parliamentary procedure by and of this Board
od Directors shall be done in accordance with
the revised standard edition of Robert's Rules of
Order, insofar as the same is not inconsistent
with these bylaws or any standing order of this
association.
Section 4 --- The Board of Directors shall meet
at least six times per year and at other such
intervals as shall be deemed necessary or
expedient by the President or the Board of
Directors. Written notice of said date for the
meeting of the Board shall be given to all
directors at least three (3) days prior to date of
such meeting.
Section 5 --- The Board has the power and
responsibility to establish rules, regulations and
policies for the governing and managing of its
affairs not inconsistent with these Bylaws or
with any law of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and the United States. Such rules,
regulations and policies shall be established
upon an affirmative vote of a majority of a
quorum of the Board.
Section 6 --- The secretary of the Board shall be
responsible for keeping a full and complete
record of all of its public proceedings, whose
records will be open to inspection during any
Board or General Membership Meeting.
Section 7 --- The Board shall not conduct any
business in the absence of a quorum of its
members. A quorum constitutes one-third of
the total membership of the Board. The majority
of those present shall rule at any meeting where
a quorum is present except where these Bylaws
or EARN policies expressly require more than a
majority vote.
Section 8 --- The Board of directors shall be
accountable to the people of the neighborhoods
they represent. They shall be responsible for
general notification in the area about meetings,
positions taken, elections and other events.
They shall be responsible for seeking the views
of the people affected by proposed policy or
action before adopting recommendations. They
should also be responible for guaranteeing
adequate notice and hearing through a regular and
orderly process to those proposing policy or
action before adopting any recommendations.
Section 9 --- Dissenting views on any issue
considered by this organization shall be recorded
and transmitted along with any
recommendations made by the association to the
School District, City, County, U.S.
Government, Non-Profit private agencies or
business.
Section 10 --- Procedure shall be established
whereby persons may request the association to
reconsider a decision which adversely affects the
person or causes some grievance.
Section 11 --- Nothing in this chapter shall limit
the right of any person or group to participate
directly in the decision making process of the
School District, City, County,. U.S.
Government, private agency or business.
ARTICLE XI --- Committees of the Board
Section 1 --- The Board of Directors shall
establish whatever committees it deems
necessary to carry on the business of the Board,
and disband the same when no longer needed.
Committees review problems submitted within
their area of interest, and pass recommendations
to the Board of Directors.
Section 2 --- Each Committee consists of at least
three members who determine and represent the
views of their neighborhood in making
recommendations and proposals.
Section 3 --- Each Committe shall have a
Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary.
Section 4 --- Committee meetings shall be held at
the call of the Chairperson. Committees shall
operate in such a way which is not specifically
prohibited by law nor contrary to EARN Board
of Director Bylaws and overall policy. A record
of the proceedings of each Committee meeting
shall be filed with the Secretary; a report shall be
given at scheduled meetings of the Board.
ARTICLE XII --- Prohibition Against Sharing in
Corporate or Association's Earnings
Section 1 --- No director, officer, employee or
person connected with the association, or any
other private individual shall receive at any time
any of the net earnings or pecuniary profit from
the operation of the corporation; provided, that
this shall not prevent the payment to any such
person of such reasonable compensation for
services rendered to or for the association in
effecting any of its purposes as shall be fixed by
the Board; nor shall it limit the extent to which
grants, scholarships, and fellowships can be
made available to scholars, researchers, students,
writers, and others.
ARTICLE 111 --- Past Obligations of EARN
Prior to Incorporation}
Section 1 --- All debts contracted and
engagements entered into before the adoption of
these Bylaws shall be valid against the East
Allentown/Rittersville Neighborhood
Association, Inc. at the time of incorporation
under these Bylaws, as under the Bylaws of the
Current Board of Directors which are
superseded by these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV --- Private Property
Section 1 --- The private property of the
members of the Board shall not be subject to
payment of the debts of the Board, and each and
all shall be exempt from liability whatsoever
therefore, and this article shall not be subject to
amendment or revision by operation of law or
otherwise.
ARTICLE XV --- Audits and Fiscal Afairs
Section 1 --- All funds allocated for various
phases of this association shall be audited.
Section 2 --- The Board of Directors depending
on the extent of public funding can hire a
certified public accountant to audit accounts or
elect to conduct a self audit by creation of a
special ad hoc committee for that purpose. In
both cases the audit procedure shall be
completed sixty (60) days after the completion
of the fiscal year. The final report shall be given
the President and brought before the Board
before being made public.}
Section 3 --- The Board may authorize any
officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into
any contract or execute or deliver any
instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
association, and such authority may be general
or confined in specific instances.
Section 4 --- All checks, drafts or other orders
for payments of money, notes,or other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of
the association shall be signed by such officer or
officers, agent or agents of the corporation and
in such manner as shall from time to time be
determined by resolution of the Board.
ARTICLE XVI --- Dissolution
Section 1 --- In the event of the dissolution of
the association, all its assets remaining, after the
payment of all debts and obligations of the
corporation, shall be distributed to such one or
more organizations which have purposes and
objects similar to those of this corporation and
are exempt from U.S. income taxes under the
provision of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, as the Board of
Directors may select, and if more than one, in
such shares and proportion as the Board of
Directors may determine.
ARTICLE XVII --- Amendments to Bylaws
Section 1 --- Members of the Board shall
establish or amend these Bylaws (Except Article
XIV) by two-thirds vote of a quorum of the
members of the Board at any regular or special
meeting, provided that such Bylaws or
amendments have been submitted to the
Secretary in writing.
ARTICLE XVIII --- Effective Date
Section 1 --- The effective date of these Bylaws
shall be immediately upon their adoption and
approval as provided herein, and their
ratification by the EARN Board of Directors.
Allentown - Rittersville Neighborhood
Association, Inc.
***** Approved by the Neighborhood Board
of Directors ---- February 12, 1981
ARTICLE 1 --- Name and Boundaries
Section 1 --- This association shall be named,
known and identified as East
Allentown/Ritttersville Neighborhood
Association, Inc.; hereafter referred to as EARN.
(Passed by neighborhood Board of Directors ---
July 13, 1993 --- Amendment replaces all former
references to EARN 27 in bylaws)
Section 2 --- The officials policies, positions
and opinions of EARN shall not be established
or determined by any organization other than its
official membership or its agent(s) --- The
Neighborhood Board of Directors.
Section 3 --- All activities of EARN shall be
conducted in the name of EARN.
Section 4 --- EARN may operate and recruit
membership in a geographical territory
comprising the 14th and 15th wards of
Allentown ... ( Passed by the neighborhood
Board of Directors --- 4/8/93 )
ARTICLE II --- Purpose and Function
Section 1 --- EARN may recommend any
action, policy or comprehensive plan to the
City, School District, County, State, Federal
Government or any agency or business affecting
the livability of the neighborhood including but
not limited to: land use, zoning, housing,
community facilities , education, human
resources, public safety, social and recreational
programs, traffic and transportation,
environmental quality, open space and parks. (
Passed by the Board of Directors --- 4/8/93 )
Section 2 --- EARN shall assist City, School
District, County, State and Federal governments
in determining priority needs for the
neighborhood. ( Passed by the Board of
Directors --- 4/8/93)
Section 3 --- EARN may review items for
inclusion in City, School District, County, State
and Federal Budgets and make recommendations
relating to proposed expenditures in these
respective budgets for direct or indirect
neighborhood improvement. (Passed by the
Board of Directors --- 4/8/93)
Section 4 --- Undertake to manage projects as
may be agreed upon or contracted with public or
private agencies.
Section 5 --- Engage in comprehensive planning
on matters affecting the livability of the
neighborhood when carried out by a planning
committee representative of the geographic areas
and of the various interests relating to our
community.
ARTICLE III --- Membership
Section 1 --- The membership of this
neighborhood association is open to any
individual resident, property owner, business,
professional, industrialists, or representatives of
non-profit organizations located within the
neighborhood boundaries.
Section 2 --- No denial of membership shall be
due to race, religion, creed, sex, color, physical
handicap, or national origin.
ARTICLE IV --- Dues and Funding
Section 1 --- The charging of dues or
membership fees shall not be required for
membership or voting.
Section 2 --- Voluntary dues, social events and
affairs, contributions, contracts, grants or
subscriptions to newsletters may be used by
this group as sources of income.
Section 3 --- A voluntary dues structure can be
established in an amount which shall be
determined or suggested by the neighborhood
Board of Directors and approved by the general
membership.
ARTICLE V --- Organization
Section 1 --- This association shall be comprised
of the General Membership, Officers, Board of
Directors, Block Captains and whatever
Committees as may be formed by the
association.
ARTICLE VI --- General Membership Meetings
Section 1 --- EARN General Membership
Meetings shall be established by the EARN
Board of Directors upon the recommendation of
the President of EARN. (Amended 3/16/87)
Section 2 --- When conditions warrant, the
President subject to the approval of the Board
of Directors can suspend or change the date of
any regularly scheduled meeting in any given
month.
Section 3 --- These bylaws do not prohibit the
President or the Board of Directors of this
association from conducting EARN General
Membership Meetings (routinely or
occasionally) in joint session with General
Membership meetings of other neighborhood
groups.
Section 4 --- The date, place and time of
scheduled neighborhood meetings shall be
advertised generally throughout the
neighborhood by publication of a neighborhoood
newsletter or a release of neighborhood meeting
information to the press.
Section 5 --- Special meetings of the General
Membership shall be called by the President at
such times as he/she may deem necessary or
upon written request signed by three (3)
members of the Board of Directors, or upon
written request signed by ten(10) members of
this association.
Section 6 --- Special meetings of the General
Membership shall be limited to a specific
problem for which it was called.
Section 7 --- All meetings of the General
Membership shall be open to the public,
government officials and the press.
Section 8 --- The standing order of this
association is that General Membership
meetings should be conducted in an open town
hall type of manner; that, the formal style
business meeting should be utilized on limited
occasions.
Section 9 --- Those members present at any
General Membership Meetings constitute a
quorum.
Section 10 -- A simple majority shall be required
to pass any motion made at any meeting of the
General Membership unless otherwise provided
herein.
ARTICLE VII --- Citizen Based Boards or
Coalition Representatives of the EARN Board
of Directors
Section 1 --- The EARN Board of Directors
shall appoint upon the recommendation of the
EARN President as many representatives,
delegates or alternate representatives and
delegates that may be needed to adequately
represent the interests of the neighborhood on
Citizen Based Boards or Coalitions formally
recognized in timely fashion by the EARN
Board of Directors for neighborhood
membership and neighborhood participation.(
Amended 9/30/87)
Section 2 --- The EARN Board of Directors
upon the recommendation of the EARN
President shall appoint as many representatives
and delegates or alternate representatives and
delegates that may be required or needed to
represent the interests ofthe neighborhood on
national, state, regional or community based
oriented committees or boards as would be
recognized in timely fashion by the EARN
Board of Directors for neighborhood
membership and participation. (Amended
9/30/87)
Section 3 --- Neighborhood delegates and
representatives or alternate delegates or
representives on Citizen based boards or
coalitions or national, state, regional or
community based issue oriented committees or
boards shall inform the EARN Board of
Directors and General Membership as to
developments occuring within their area of
responsibility. ( Amended 9/30/87)
ARTICLE VIII --- Block Captains
Section 1 --- The definition of "block
associations" as used in these bylaws shall mean
a group of people organized within the
boundaries of one or more city blocks for the
purpose of considering and acting upon common
concerns affecting block livability.
Section 2 --- Block area boundaries which are
applicable to EARN are shown on exhibit B.
These boundaries reflect an effort to better serve
and reflect the needs of the diverse block
associations of this neighborhood.
Section 3 --- Block Captains shall be appointed
by the neighborhood Board of Directors from
within each block association to distribute
neighborhood meeting notices and newsletters,
to call neighbors about special meetings or
important information, and to report problems
and news back to the neighborhood board and
membership.
Section 4 --- Special meetings of the Block
Captains shall be called by the President at such
times as he/she may deem necessary.
ARTICLE IX --- Officers
Section 1 --- The officers of this association
shall consist of a President, one or more Vice
Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such
other officers as may be deemed necessary by
the Board.
Section 2 --- Any resident of the EARN prime
service area who is 18 and above is eligible to
serve the neighborhood as an officer. However,
the following qualities should be present in any
individual entrusted with the office of President.
1. The President should be both a community
leader and a representative of the neighborhood.
2. The President should be a person with
adequate time to devote to the operations of the
organization.
3. The President should be a person generally
interested in enhancing or maintaining
neighborhood livability and cognizant and not
insensitive to the concerns of the poor,
disadvantaged and those on a fixed income
residing in the neighborhood.
4. The President should be a person whose
personal strength and leadership ability will
guarantee organized meetings, adequate planning,
and proper goverance. (Passed by the
Neigborhood Board of Directors --- July 13,
1993)
Section 3 --- The officers and Board of
Directors of this association shall be elected by
the General Membership in open election during
November ... Balloting shall be performed by
secret ballot.
Section 4 --- The term of all elected officer
positions shall be one(1) year, or in each case,
until their respective successors are elected and
installed.
Section 5 --- A slate of nominees shall be
presented for all elected positions at the
September meeting of the Board of Directors.
The slate shall be prepared by a nominating
Committee appointed by the President in July
with the approval of the Board. Additional
nominations will be received from the floor at
the October meeting and closed at that time.
Also, nominees can be presented upon petition
signed by twenty-five (25) members of the
association prior to the time nominations close.
Section 6 --- A simple majority of the members
voting shall be required to elect nominees for all
elected positions.
Section 7 --- Any officer elected by the
membership may be removed at anytime by an
affirmative vote of 2/3rds of the Board of
Directors. Any vacancy occuring in any Office
or Directorate of the Corporation, other than a
vacancy resulting from normal expiration of a
term of office, shall be filled by the Board of
Directors by an affirmative vote of a quorum
present at such a meeting which shall be held not
sooner than thirty (30) days after written notice
of the vacancy has been mailed to all members.
Section 8 --- The President shall be the principal
officer of this association. It shall be the duty of
the President to preside over all neighborhood
meetings and deliberations of the General
Membership, Board of Directors, and Block
Captains and to perform such other tasks as
shall properly be designated and directed by the
Board. (Passed by the Neighborhood Board of
Directors --- July 13, 1993)
Section 9 --- It shall be the duty of the Vice
President to perform the duty of the Chair in the
event of the President's absence or disability. In
the case of multiple Vice Presidents, the Vice
president of highest rank as determined by the
Board shall perform the duties and exercise the
power of the chairperson. The Vice President
shall respectively have such powers and
perform such duties as may be described by the
Board of Directors or the President.
Section 10 --- The duties of the Secretary shall
be those indicated by the title as well as those
established by these bylaws and such other
duties as may be properly prescribed by the
Board. The Secretary shall keep accurate
minutes of all meetings.
Section 11 -- The Treasurer shall have the
custody of the association funds and securities
and shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in a book belonging
to the association and shall be responsible for
depositing all the monies in the name and to the
credit of the association as may be designated by
the Board of Directors. He/She shall be
responsible for the disbursement of funds of the
association in accordance with the directions of
the Board of Directors, and shall render to the
Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, ( or
when the Board of Directors so requires) an
account of all his/her transactions as treasure and
of
the financial condition of the association. The
Board shall determine when the financial
condition of the Corporation makes it necessary
to bond the treasurer. (Passed by the
Neighborhood Board of Directors --- July 13,
1993)
ARTICLE X --- The Board of Directors
Section 1 --- The Board of Directors shall be
composed of all Officers of this organization as
stated in Article IX - section 1 and 12 delegates
elected to four (4) four year terms. A staggered
program for election of the Board of Directors
shall be implemented upon adoption of these
Bylaws. ( the start up process shall see three
delegates elected to 1 year terms, 3 delegates to
two year terms, 3 delegates to three year terms
and 3 delegates to full 4 year terms.)
Section 2 --- The Past President, Block
Captains, and CNO Issue Committee and Board
delegates shall sit with the neighborhood Board
as ex-official members.
(Section needs to be updated with provisions
provided in Article VII - CNO was dissolved in
1987)
Section 3 --- The conduct of business including
parliamentary procedure by and of this Board
od Directors shall be done in accordance with
the revised standard edition of Robert's Rules of
Order, insofar as the same is not inconsistent
with these bylaws or any standing order of this
association.
Section 4 --- The Board of Directors shall meet
at least six times per year and at other such
intervals as shall be deemed necessary or
expedient by the President or the Board of
Directors. Written notice of said date for the
meeting of the Board shall be given to all
directors at least three (3) days prior to date of
such meeting.
Section 5 --- The Board has the power and
responsibility to establish rules, regulations and
policies for the governing and managing of its
affairs not inconsistent with these Bylaws or
with any law of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and the United States. Such rules,
regulations and policies shall be established
upon an affirmative vote of a majority of a
quorum of the Board.
Section 6 --- The secretary of the Board shall be
responsible for keeping a full and complete
record of all of its public proceedings, whose
records will be open to inspection during any
Board or General Membership Meeting.
Section 7 --- The Board shall not conduct any
business in the absence of a quorum of its
members. A quorum constitutes one-third of
the total membership of the Board. The majority
of those present shall rule at any meeting where
a quorum is present except where these Bylaws
or EARN policies expressly require more than a
majority vote.
Section 8 --- The Board of directors shall be
accountable to the people of the neighborhoods
they represent. They shall be responsible for
general notification in the area about meetings,
positions taken, elections and other events.
They shall be responsible for seeking the views
of the people affected by proposed policy or
action before adopting recommendations. They
should also be responible for guaranteeing
adequate notice and hearing through a regular and
orderly process to those proposing policy or
action before adopting any recommendations.
Section 9 --- Dissenting views on any issue
considered by this organization shall be recorded
and transmitted along with any
recommendations made by the association to the
School District, City, County, U.S.
Government, Non-Profit private agencies or
business.
Section 10 --- Procedure shall be established
whereby persons may request the association to
reconsider a decision which adversely affects the
person or causes some grievance.
Section 11 --- Nothing in this chapter shall limit
the right of any person or group to participate
directly in the decision making process of the
School District, City, County,. U.S.
Government, private agency or business.
ARTICLE XI --- Committees of the Board
Section 1 --- The Board of Directors shall
establish whatever committees it deems
necessary to carry on the business of the Board,
and disband the same when no longer needed.
Committees review problems submitted within
their area of interest, and pass recommendations
to the Board of Directors.
Section 2 --- Each Committee consists of at least
three members who determine and represent the
views of their neighborhood in making
recommendations and proposals.
Section 3 --- Each Committe shall have a
Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary.
Section 4 --- Committee meetings shall be held at
the call of the Chairperson. Committees shall
operate in such a way which is not specifically
prohibited by law nor contrary to EARN Board
of Director Bylaws and overall policy. A record
of the proceedings of each Committee meeting
shall be filed with the Secretary; a report shall be
given at scheduled meetings of the Board.
ARTICLE XII --- Prohibition Against Sharing in
Corporate or Association's Earnings
Section 1 --- No director, officer, employee or
person connected with the association, or any
other private individual shall receive at any time
any of the net earnings or pecuniary profit from
the operation of the corporation; provided, that
this shall not prevent the payment to any such
person of such reasonable compensation for
services rendered to or for the association in
effecting any of its purposes as shall be fixed by
the Board; nor shall it limit the extent to which
grants, scholarships, and fellowships can be
made available to scholars, researchers, students,
writers, and others.
ARTICLE 111 --- Past Obligations of EARN
Prior to Incorporation}
Section 1 --- All debts contracted and
engagements entered into before the adoption of
these Bylaws shall be valid against the East
Allentown/Rittersville Neighborhood
Association, Inc. at the time of incorporation
under these Bylaws, as under the Bylaws of the
Current Board of Directors which are
superseded by these Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV --- Private Property
Section 1 --- The private property of the
members of the Board shall not be subject to
payment of the debts of the Board, and each and
all shall be exempt from liability whatsoever
therefore, and this article shall not be subject to
amendment or revision by operation of law or
otherwise.
ARTICLE XV --- Audits and Fiscal Afairs
Section 1 --- All funds allocated for various
phases of this association shall be audited.
Section 2 --- The Board of Directors depending
on the extent of public funding can hire a
certified public accountant to audit accounts or
elect to conduct a self audit by creation of a
special ad hoc committee for that purpose. In
both cases the audit procedure shall be
completed sixty (60) days after the completion
of the fiscal year. The final report shall be given
the President and brought before the Board
before being made public.}
Section 3 --- The Board may authorize any
officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into
any contract or execute or deliver any
instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
association, and such authority may be general
or confined in specific instances.
Section 4 --- All checks, drafts or other orders
for payments of money, notes,or other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of
the association shall be signed by such officer or
officers, agent or agents of the corporation and
in such manner as shall from time to time be
determined by resolution of the Board.
ARTICLE XVI --- Dissolution
Section 1 --- In the event of the dissolution of
the association, all its assets remaining, after the
payment of all debts and obligations of the
corporation, shall be distributed to such one or
more organizations which have purposes and
objects similar to those of this corporation and
are exempt from U.S. income taxes under the
provision of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, as the Board of
Directors may select, and if more than one, in
such shares and proportion as the Board of
Directors may determine.
ARTICLE XVII --- Amendments to Bylaws
Section 1 --- Members of the Board shall
establish or amend these Bylaws (Except Article
XIV) by two-thirds vote of a quorum of the
members of the Board at any regular or special
meeting, provided that such Bylaws or
amendments have been submitted to the
Secretary in writing.
ARTICLE XVIII --- Effective Date
Section 1 --- The effective date of these Bylaws
shall be immediately upon their adoption and
approval as provided herein, and their
ratification by the EARN Board of Directors.
Proposed Bylaw Change - October
18, 2010
Article III - Membership
Section 2 ---
a. There shall be no denial of
membership to individuals or groups
on the basis of race, color, religion,
creed, sex, age, disability, national
origin, sexual orientation, income, or
political affiliation .
b.The membership may make
policies, recommendations, or
actions that is to the best interest of
the welfare of our neighborhood
Please Note --- The Allentown
Community of Neighborhood
Organizations which EARN was a
member before CNO ceased
operations for good in 1987 required
that for a neighborhood election be
recognized by that group at least ten
members of the community must
participate in the balloting ... EARN
has followed this policy procedure
even when CNO went out of
business as an unstated but formal
part of the bylaws as of 9/30/1987.
Please Note --- A neighborhood
Association should not be
considered a sub group for any
political party or any other political
issue oriented organization... A
neighborhood organization promotes
the well-being of the communities
building infrastructure and the public
safety of its people and other
necessary livability issues ... As a
norm people are not rushing to
compete for neighborhood positions
at least this has not been the
experience of EARN ... Since
9/30/1987 the policy procedure for
the Nominating Committee has been
to look within the Board of Directors
for the high leadership of the
neighborhood and look within the
interested membership to fill any
Board vacancies .... What is not
wanted is a partisan takeover of the
EARN neighborhood to specifically
promote the interests of political
candidates no matter what political
office they are seeking.
Proposed Article VII Section 4 ---
October 18, 2010 --- The EARN
Board of Directors Assumes Full
responsibility for the management of
the 501(3) C Organization --- Lehigh
Valley Council for Regional
Livability .
Proposed Amendment Article VII
Section 5 --- October 18, 2010 --- At
the Current time the EARN
Neighborhood ( an incorporated
neighborhood) is an active
participant in the President's Council
of the Allentown Crime Watch, an
nonincorporated association. As such
we are entitled to send one
representative ... The ability of
EARN to act independently on
matters we firmly believe in remains
an option for this neighborhood
18, 2010
Article III - Membership
Section 2 ---
a. There shall be no denial of
membership to individuals or groups
on the basis of race, color, religion,
creed, sex, age, disability, national
origin, sexual orientation, income, or
political affiliation .
b.The membership may make
policies, recommendations, or
actions that is to the best interest of
the welfare of our neighborhood
Please Note --- The Allentown
Community of Neighborhood
Organizations which EARN was a
member before CNO ceased
operations for good in 1987 required
that for a neighborhood election be
recognized by that group at least ten
members of the community must
participate in the balloting ... EARN
has followed this policy procedure
even when CNO went out of
business as an unstated but formal
part of the bylaws as of 9/30/1987.
Please Note --- A neighborhood
Association should not be
considered a sub group for any
political party or any other political
issue oriented organization... A
neighborhood organization promotes
the well-being of the communities
building infrastructure and the public
safety of its people and other
necessary livability issues ... As a
norm people are not rushing to
compete for neighborhood positions
at least this has not been the
experience of EARN ... Since
9/30/1987 the policy procedure for
the Nominating Committee has been
to look within the Board of Directors
for the high leadership of the
neighborhood and look within the
interested membership to fill any
Board vacancies .... What is not
wanted is a partisan takeover of the
EARN neighborhood to specifically
promote the interests of political
candidates no matter what political
office they are seeking.
Proposed Article VII Section 4 ---
October 18, 2010 --- The EARN
Board of Directors Assumes Full
responsibility for the management of
the 501(3) C Organization --- Lehigh
Valley Council for Regional
Livability .
Proposed Amendment Article VII
Section 5 --- October 18, 2010 --- At
the Current time the EARN
Neighborhood ( an incorporated
neighborhood) is an active
participant in the President's Council
of the Allentown Crime Watch, an
nonincorporated association. As such
we are entitled to send one
representative ... The ability of
EARN to act independently on
matters we firmly believe in remains
an option for this neighborhood