Tuscarawas Street South to 9th Street; Schroyer East to Market Canton, Ohio

THE SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORS

Also designated as SWAN or S.W.A.N.

BY-LAWS

SWAN is a neighborhood-oriented group. Individuals living or conducting business within its boundaries are encouraged to contribute their time and knowledge for the benefit of the group.

ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1. SWAN is part of the Neighborhood Leadership Council and works closely with the Stark Community Foundation in applying for and receiving grants, and providing Neighborhood Leadership Training to individuals that reside or do business within its boundaries.

SECTION 2. MEMBERSHIP: Anyone living or conducting business within the boundaries of SWAN or serving on the Board of Directors shall be welcome to attend and vote in SWAN community meetings.

SECTION 2. MEETINGS: The regular membership meeting shall be presided over by the President. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside or another member designated by the Board.

Paragraph 1. The regular monthly meetings shall normally be called to order promptly.

Paragraph 2. Should any question of procedure or precedence arise during a meeting, it shall be settled by final decision of the President of the group.

Paragraph 3. A majority vote of the members present at the community meeting is required to pass all motions except a change in the Constitution or removal of a member from office.

SECTION 4. RESIGNATIONS: In order for a Director or officer to resign from office, they should present their resignation in writing to the Board of Directors no less than 30 days prior to the effective date of their resignation.

SECTION 5. IMPEACHMENT: To remove an officer or Director from office, a special written vote will be held. Removal from office requires a two-thirds majority vote of those present age 18 or older at a SWAN community meeting.

ARTICLE II - OFFICERS

The officers of SWAN shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer & Member-at-large as determined by the members of the organization. They shall be elected once each year at the July community meeting with a majority vote of those members in attendance. New officers shall assume their positions on August 1st following their election. It shall be the responsibility of the outgoing and incoming officers to meet and exchange necessary information and records between the election and installation of new officers.

SECTION 1. The duties of the President shall be as follows:

Paragraph 1. Serve as presiding President at all regular and Board of Directors meetings.

Paragraph 2. Be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Paragraph 3. Be a "public relations" representative for SWAN.

Paragraph 4. Promote the neighborhood-orientation of SWAN.

Paragraph 5. Be registered with the bank as an authorized signature on all SWAN accounts.

Paragraph 6. Enforce SWAN's Constitution and Bylaws.

Paragraph 9. Be a voting member of the SWAN Board of Directors.

Paragraph 10. Be responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the operating documents of SWAN meetings, include the meeting site open/close schedule, and all meeting agendas.

Paragraph 11. Open and close SWAN regular meeting site.

SECTION 2. The duties of the Vice-President shall be as follows:

Paragraph 1. Assume the duties of the President in the absence of that officer.

Paragraph 2. Assist the President in the operations of SWAN.

Paragraph 3. Meet periodically with the President to address agenda items and other committee matters.

Paragraph 4. Fulfill such other responsibilities as are given to this office elsewhere in these bylaws or by action of the President.

Paragraph 5. If the office of Vice-President becomes vacant because the occupant succeeds to President or for any other reason, SWAN will elect another member to fill the position of Vice-President at a general meeting.

SECTION 2. The duties of the Secretary shall be as follows:

Paragraph 1. Record the minutes of all regular and Board of Directors meetings, reporting these minutes to the membership at all meetings and submitting them for publication in the SWAN newsletter.

Paragraph 2. Promote the neighborhood-orientation of SWAN.

Paragraph 3. Be a voting member of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. The duties of the Treasurer shall be as follows:

Paragraph 1. Maintain accurate records of SWAN finances, presenting a financial report at all meetings and submitting them for publication in SWAN newsletter.

Paragraph 2. Maintain a voucher system to record every expenditure of SWAN. Each voucher shall have the reason for the expenditure, to whom the expenditure was made, and shall bear the signatures of the directors and/or officers who authorized the expenditure. If a voucher is in the amount of $100 or more, it must bear the signatures of at least half of the SWAN officers.

Paragraph 3. Monitor SWAN bank accounts and petty cash accounts.

Paragraph 4. Be responsible for collecting and recording the monies brought in by SWAN through fund raising activities, grants, and donations.

Paragraph 5. Promote the neighborhood-orientation of SWAN.

Paragraph 6. Be registered with the bank as an authorized signature on all SWAN accounts.

Paragraph 7. Be a voting member of the SWAN Board of Directors.

SECTION 4. Officers shall be elected to serve one (1) year terms commencing August 1st and ending July 31st of each elective year.

ARTICLE III - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the SouthWest Association of Neighbors. The Board of Directors shall have the responsibility of negotiating for meeting facilities and any other group business which may be brought before it. If problems arise relating to facilities, usage or personnel problems, the Board of Directors shall immediately investigate and correct the problem to the satisfaction of the majority of the group's membership. The Board of Directors shall have the responsibility for approval of all expenditures, unless previously approved by the membership.

SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 1 Member-at-large. Each member shall be elected annually.

SECTION 2. The Board of Directors shall meet at a location, date, and time determined by the Board. Any member may voice his/her opinion at the Board Meetings, but the final decisions on all business must be only by majority vote of the five (5) Board Members.

SECTION 4. The duties of the Member-at-large shall be as follows:

Paragraph 1. Be a "public relations" representative for SWAN.

Paragraph 2. Promote the family-orientation of SWAN.

Paragraph 3. Be a voting member of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV - ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to serve as an Officer on the Board of Directors, an individual must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

SECTION 1. No person may hold more than one position on the Board of Directors at any one time.

ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES

Committees may be appointed by the President or the SWAN Board of Directors. The Chairman of each committee shall be responsible for keeping the President apprised of the committee's activities and progress. The President shall be a member in absentia of all committees and the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI - APPROVAL AND CHANGES TO BY-LAWS

The BY-LAWS of the organization, known as the SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORS (SWAN OR S.W.A.N.), shall be approved by a 2/3 vote of the voting members present at a SWAN community meeting. Any changes must be presented in writing to the President for review by the members at the next regular community meeting. The suggested change will be read at the community meeting. Voting shall be done in accordance with Article X of the Constitution.

SECTION 1. The BY-LAWS shall be reviewed at least every three years. Under this schedule, the next review should take place during 2009.

ARTICLE VII. - MEMBERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY

SECTION 1. Discipline shall be maintained at all times at all regular monthly meetings and any other official group sanctioned event. This includes proper physical activity and acceptable language.

ARTICLE VIII. - DISBANDMENT

If it is determined that SWAN should disband, all properties of SWAN are to be liquidated at a sale to be determined by the Board of Directors. All items are to be sold at fair market values determined by age, type, condition, etc. Upon completion of the sale, first and foremost, all outstanding debts and obligations of SWAN are to be paid and settled. All remaining monies shall then be contributed to a local charity as determined by the Board of Directors of SWAN.

Adopted February 3, 2006

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Southwest Association of Neighbors SWAN) Canton, Ohio