Abell Improvement Association
Bylaws for the Abell Improvement Association, Inc.
Name
The name of the organization is Abell Improvement Association, Inc.
Boundaries
The boundaries of the Association are:
North: 33rd Street (properties on both sides of 33rd Street are part of the Association)
South: 29th Street (properties on 29th Street are not part of the Association)
East: Greenmount Avenue (properties on Greenmount Avenue are not part of the Association)
West: Guilford Avenue (properties on both sides of Guilford Avenue are part of the Association)
Exception to boundaries: The 3300 block of Abell Avenue is part of the Association
Purposes
The purposes of the Association are:
• foster the general welfare of all residents of our community
• maintain our community's appearance, safety, and good order
• promote cultural, racial, and ethnic harmony
• foster a strong sense of neighborliness and community spirit
• represent the community's interests to local and state government
Membership
Membership in the Association is open to residents within the Association boundaries age 16 and above who pay annual dues set by the Association. The membership year runs from September to August. The membership is the ultimate decision making body of the Association. A member who has failed to pay dues may be immediately dropped from membership in the Association by the President.
Officers
The officers of the Association are President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer, and two Members at Large, all of whom are nominated and elected by the membership at the annual meeting. The President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer are the executive officers. The executive officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association. Officers shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected, and their term of office shall begin at the close of the meeting at which they are elected. A motion to rescind the election of an officer requires notice to be given in the call of the meeting. In the event an office becomes vacant, the President may appoint a replacement to serve for the remainder of the term. In the event that the office of President becomes vacant, the Vice President shall become President for the remainder of the term. Officers serving two consecutive years in the same office may not serve in that same office during the following year but may serve in any other office. No member shall hold more than one office at a time.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers, including the Members at Large, and the chairs of standing committees. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association between membership meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Association, and perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws. The Executive Committee will meet monthly in between quarterly membership meetings, unless the President determines that no meeting is necessary in a particular month. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President and shall be called at the request of three members of the Executive Committee. Executive Committee meetings are open to all members. Executive Committee decisions will be recorded in the minutes of the Executive Committee and will be made available upon the request of any member. A quorum for the Executive Committee is four (4) members including at least two of the executive officers. Each Executive Committee member shall serve on at least one committee. Executive Committee members must attend a majority of Executive Committee meetings.
Meetings
Regular membership meetings shall be held at least quarterly and announced through the newsletter or other publication distributed to all members at least two weeks before the meeting. Major agenda items for membership meetings will be published along with the meeting announcement. The first quarterly membership meeting of the calendar year will be the annual meeting, where officers will be nominated and elected. The president may appoint a parliamentarian to advise on questions of parliamentary procedure at membership meetings. Membership meeting decisions will be reported in the next newsletter. Emergency membership meetings may be called by the Executive Committee with at least one week's notice delivered to all members. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call.
Voting
Voting at membership meetings shall be on the basis of one vote per member present at the time of the vote. No proxies shall be permitted. A quorum for a regular membership meeting is seven (7) members. Committees The President may appoint the following standing committees:
• Housing
• Communications
• Sanitation
• Parking
• Membership/Welcoming
• Land Use and Planning
• Street Fair
• Open Space
• Nominating
• Safety
Other committees shall be appointed by the President when designated by the Executive Committee or membership as necessary to fulfill the purposes of the Association. The President shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
The AIA appoints two representatives to serve on the board of the Charles Village Community Benefits District Management Authority. (CVCBDMA). These representatives shall serve as voting members of the Executive Committee. Representatives shall be elected at the November General Membership Meeting. [approved by the membership April 17, 2013]
Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt. Amendments to these bylaws may be adopted by a two-thirds vote at any regular quarterly membership meeting. The proposed amendments must be provided to all members along with the notice of the meeting at least two weeks in advance.
Adopted June 27, 1973
Amended February 26, 1974; September 18, 1997; 2000; April 2002; April 20, 2004; January 26, 2008; April 17, 2013; April 22, 2015; January 28, 2017