We, the residents of the Ridgeway neighborhood, do hereby form the Ridgeway Neighborhood Association and enact this constitution in order to assert the integrity of our neighborhood. We are dedicated to the practice that we shall harmoniously assemble and express our separate concerns in a unified voice, and to the principle that the welfare of the many shall not be subject to the interest of the few.
ARTICLE I: Name, Boundaries, and Purpose
Section 1: The name of the organization shall be the Ridgeway Neighborhood Association.Section 2: The neighborhood shall be bounded on the north by Business Loop 70, on the south by Sexton Road, on the east by Providence Road, and on the west by Jewell Avenue.
Section 3: The purpose of the Association shall be to facilitate communication among residents, between this neighborhood and other neighborhoods, and between residents and local government regarding matters relating to the happiness, health, safety, and welfare of the members.
Section 1: Membership in the Ridgeway Neighborhood Association is open to every person who resides, leases commercial premises, or owns real estate in the neighborhood. Every member who is 12 years old or older and registered with the Secretary shall be entitled to one vote at meetings, regardless of the number of lots owned. Non-resident corporate or partnership-owned members shall be allowed one vote for the corporation or partnership unit. Ridgeway Elementary School shall be entitled to one vote.
Section 1: A President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who must reside in the Ridgeway Neighborhood, shall be nominated and elected at the Spring meeting or at an otherwise scheduled and duly publicized special election meeting. Any officer may be recalled at any meeting, given due notice of the contemplated recall as required by Article IV.Section 2: President. The President shall preside and maintain order at all Association meetings and shall have the authority to sign and execute all contracts and instruments of conveyance in the name of the Association. Such actions shall, in a timely manner, be reported to and logged by the Secretary. Should an office be vacated for any reason, the President shall appoint an interim officer who shall perform the duties of that office until the next election meeting.
Section 3: Vice-President. In the absence or disability of the President, or at the President's request, the Vice-President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and shall become the President if the President position is vacated.
Section 4: Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Association and shall have charge of the records of membership and such other records, correspondence and logs as deemed necessary.
Section 5: Treasurer. The Treasurer shall handle all funds, keep true and accurate books of all income and expenditures, and report the Association's finances at the Spring meeting, at quarterly meetings, and when requested by the President. The President or Vice-President must approve all disbursements of Association funds.
Section 1: The main office of the Association shall be located at the home of the President.
Section 2: Financial records shall be kept at the home of the Treasurer.
Section 3: Minutes, correspondence, and membership records shall be kept at the home of the Secretary.
Section 1: The officers shall, at their discretion, appoint delegates to serve on registration, planning, and other such committees, and shall allocate jobs to them as they see fit. All appointments must be reported to, and logged with, the Secretary.
Section 1: A Spring meeting shall be held between March 1 and June 1 for the purpose of electing officers and to conduct any other business stated on the notice. Thereafter, meetings shall be held quarterly.Section 2: Special meetings may be called at the request of three or more registered members.
Section 3: All meetings shall be publicized at least 5 days in advance. All meeting notices shall include meeting date, time, location, and agenda.
Section 4: To publicize the Spring Meeting, the Secretary shall place a notice in the Columbia Daily Tribune, on the Columbia On-line Information Network Kiosk, and on the Cable TV Public Notice Bulletin Board. As notice for all meetings, the officers or their designees shall contact registered members by phone or mail. Any member who desires notice by mail shall give the Secretary a sufficient supply of stamped, self-addressed envelopes.
Section 5: A quorum for any meeting shall consist of those registered members present and at least two of the officers, including the President or the Vice-President.
Section 6: Registered members unable to attend a meeting may cast an absentee ballot, which must be provided by a Ridgeway Neighborhood Officer and which must be received by an officer prior to the meeting.
Section 7: A simple majority suffices for all Association decisions.
Section 1: This constitution may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of the registered members present at any meeting, provided that the contemplated change is publicized in advance according to the notice requirements stated in Article IV.