GUILFORD HILLS Unification Committee

GHUC

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I—NAME 

The name of this organization shall be the Guilford Hills Unification Committee, hereafter referred to in this document as GHUC. 

ARTICLE II—OFFICE 

The association’s principal office shall be the residence of the Association President.  The Executive Committee may designate another location at its discretion. 

ARTICLE III—BOUNDARIES 

The northern boundary of the Association is Benjamin Parkway, between Bryan Boulevard and Battleground Avenue.  The southern boundary is Wendover Avenue between Battleground and Benjamin Parkway.  This area includes all the streets between Benjamin Parkway on the West, and Battleground on the East. 

ARTICLE IV—MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSES 

The mission for which GHUC. is organized is to provide an organized framework to promote, preserve, and enhance quality of life in the neighborhood.  More specifically, the purposes include but are not limited to: 

1. Preserve and enhance the residential character of the neighborhood; 

2. Establish a direct line of communication with members of the City Council; 

3. Act as a liaison between residents and institutions, industries, and businesses both in and around the neighborhood; 

4. Establish and maintain communication between all residents and property owners for the notification of concerns affecting the neighborhood; 

5. Monitor infringements of the City zoning ordinances and to report infringements to the appropriate City office; 

6. Seek funding, programs, and loans designated for the betterment and improvement of the neighborhood; 

7. Provide a forum for the airing of grievances; 

8. Elevate and promote the image of the neighborhood; 

9. Work with the Greensboro Police and Fire Departments to promote continuing improvements in the public safety of the area;  

10. Encourage increased owner occupancy; 

11. Communicate and work with other neighborhood associations on issues or mutual concern. 

ARTICLE V—MEMBERSHIP 

There shall be three categories of membership in the Association: regular, business, and associate. 

1. A regular member shall be any person over the age of eighteen residing and/or owning residential property with the Association’s boundaries. 

2. A business member shall be any person, firm, or corporation operating a place of business and/or owning property within the Association’s boundaries; provided however, that each such business shall be entitled to one membership only in the Association.

 3. An associate member shall be any person, firm or corporation who neither resides, owns property, nor does business within the neighborhood, but nevertheless, maintains an interest in the Association and its purposes.  Associate members shall have the privilege of the floor but no vote. 

ARTICLE VI—OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers of GHUC and the chairs of standing committees.  They shall be the President, the Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the immediate past president, and the president and vice-president elect and at least two at-large members.  Elected officers may also serve as committee chairs. 

Section 2.  The Board of Directors shall supervise the affairs of the Association in accordance with the Bylaws, discuss agenda issues for the association, set the agenda for regular meetings, and transact any business between meetings and report thereon at the next meeting.  

Section 3. Officers & chairs shall serve for one (1) year or until their successors are duly elected and shall assume their duties in July.   

Section 4. Nomination of Officers shall occur at an Association meeting no later than July from a slate prepared by the Nominating Committee.  Additional nominations may also be made from the floor. 

Section 5. Election of Officers will be by simple majority vote at the Association meeting held in July.  

ARTICLE VII—COMMITTEES

The committees shall include but are not limited to:  Beautification, Advocates for Elderly, Newsletter, Home of the Month, Decorating, Luminary, Street Captain, Welcome, Night Out, Fall and Spring Fling.   

ARTICLE VIII—DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall:

a. Preside at all meetings of the Association.

b. Be the sole spokesperson for GHUC, except that the Board of Directors may designate another member to serve in this capacity as necessary.

c. Appoint chairperson of standing committees with the approval of the Board of Directors. 

d. Sign with the Secretary or any other officer authorized by the Board of Directors all contracts and legal documents.

e. Serve as the primary representative to the Neighborhood Congress of Greensboro. 

Section 2. The Vice President shall:

a. Act as special assistant to the President and represent the President whenever so designated.

b. Be empowered to sign any documents as authorized by the Board of Directors when needed.

c. Be responsible for preparing and distributing the Association’s newsletter.

d. Serve as liaison to the Greensboro’s (City) Neighborhood Association. 

Section 3. The Secretary shall:

a. Keep minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the Association. These should be available in either written form, or an email format, within 5 days of the last meeting.

b. Preserve in file all records of value to the Association.

c. Sign with the President all contracts and legal documents. 

d. Maintain a current roster of membership indicating the name, address, telephone number, email address and type of membership of each member. 

Section 4. The Treasurer shall:

a. Have charge of all funds of GHUC and their deposit in a financial institution in GHUC’s name as approved by the Board of Directors. 

b. Pay all bills and disburse funds as authorized by the Board of Directors.

c. Present financial status reports at each meeting.

d. Keep itemized and complete records of all receipts and expenditures in a permanent file. 

Section 5. The Directors At Large shall:

a. Serve as chairs of standing committees as appointed by the President.

b. Provide advice and assistance in carrying out GHUC activities. 

Section 6. Each officer and committee chair shall deliver to his or her successor within fifteen (15) days after retiring from office, all records, papers, and other property belonging to the Association.  A report will be given at each monthly meeting by each Committee Chair person, or Co-Chair person.

ARTICLE IX—MEETINGS 

Section 1.  Regular meetings of GHUC shall be held once a month and may be held more often as determined by the Board of Directors. 

 Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President or any five (5) members.  Written notification of meetings shall be provided to all members at least five (5) days in advance. 

Section 3. Voting. Members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum.  A simple majority vote will carry a motion.  

Section 4.  Executive Committee meetings shall occur as required, usually on a monthly basis.  These meetings shall be open to interested members of the Association. 

Section 5. Notice of meetings shall be written to state the principal business, time, and location of the meeting and be distributed to all members by email, the neighborhood newsletter, and by the neighborhood's website. 

Section 6.  Parliamentary procedure will be followed at the bi-annual meetings of the entire organization.  Smaller meetings may proceed with less formality as long as the members feel that the group is keeping focus and all present are given fair opportunity to speak. 

ARTICLE  X—FINANCES 

Section 1.  Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year shall begin on the first day of July and end on the last day of June in each year. 

Section 2. Annual dues for each category of membership are not required.  Any monetary value shall be in the form of a donation to the association. 

Section 3. Fundraising.  GHUC may engage in fundraising activities related to its purposes.  The Executive Committee may accept on behalf of the Association any contribution, gift, bequest, or device for the general purposes or for any special purpose of the Association. 

Section 4. Contracts.  The Board of directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract on behalf of the corporation. 

Section 5. Checks.  The Treasurer is authorized to make payments for general operating expenses from the account of the Association.  Checks written on GHUC's checking account will require the signatures of two Officers.  Any amount exceeding One Hundred (100) dollars must have the Boards approval.  The Treasurer may also make payments for any contract that has been authorized by the Board of Directors. 

Section 6. Books and Records.  The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account.  All books and records may be inspected by any member or his/her agent for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.  A yearly audit shall be performed by a non-interested third party within thirty days of year end.   All books and records will be kept for a period of at least ten (10) years.

Section 7. Business of the Corporation,  GHUC, shall be conducted in accordance with the laws governing organizations exempt from federal taxes under Section 501(C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  

ARTICLE XI—AMENDMENTS 

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the regular and business members present and voting at a regular meeting, providing that notice of such an amendment has been given to the membership at least 30 days prior to the meeting.  A full text of such an amendment shall be mailed or emailed to all members at least ten (10) days prior to the date the amendment will be considered. 

ARTICLE XII—DISSOLUTION 

In the event of dissolution of GHUC, the residual assets shall be turned over to one or more tax exempt organizations as described in Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  This bylaw may not be amended or repealed. 

The Committee takes no stand on outside issues, therefore its name should never be drawn into public controversy. These By-Laws were voted and Passed as Written by the members present on Thursday, May 24, 2007.