By-Laws
BY-LAWS of DUNKIRK AREA CONCERNED CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
P. O. BOX 887
DUNKIRK, MARYLAND 20754
Revised: November 18, 2004
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Name and Area of Membership
The name of this Association shall be the Dunkirk Area Concerned Citizens Association. The Dunkirk area is defined as that portion of Calvert County bounded on the North by the Calvert/Anne Arundel County line, on the East by Route 2, on the West by the Patuxent River, and on the South by Lower Marlboro Road.
ARTICLE II
Purposes and Objectives
Section 1. To provide a voice for citizens of the Dunkirk area in the governmental decision making process.
Section 2. To create a forum where representatives from civic associations and other interested citizens of the Dunkirk area can exchange ideas.
Section 3. To participate with other organizations in areas of common interest.
Section 4. To promote controlled growth so that the predominately rural character of northern Calvert County will be preserved.
Section 5. To promote the theory and practice of the principles of good citizenship.
Section 6. To take an active interest in the civic, social, and moral welfare of the Dunkirk area.
ARTICLE III
Membership and Dues
Section 1. Regular Membership. Regular membership is open to any person, age eighteen (18) or over, who is a resident of the Dunkirk area, supports the purposes and objectives of Article II, agrees to abide by the Bylaws of the Association, and has paid his/her dues.
Section 2. Associate Membership. Associate membership is open to any person age eighteen (18) or over, who has an interest in the Dunkirk area, supports the purposes and objectives of Article II, agrees to abide by the Bylaws of the Association, and has paid his/her dues. Associate members shall be entitled to attend and participate in meetings. They shall not be entitled to vote, be an officer in the Association, a member of the Board of Directors, serve as a Committee Chairperson, or as a member of the Nominating Committee.
Section 3. Dues. Annual dues shall be ten dollars per household for the calendar year, but shall not exceed ten dollars per household for the calendar year. The amount of annual dues may be changed by a majority vote of the members present at a regular or special meeting; provided that at least seven days notice of the proposed change shall be given.
ARTICLE IV
General Membership Meetings
Section 1. Regular Meetings. Meetings of the general membership shall be held not less than twice yearly.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President and shall be called either by the request of a majority of the Board of Directors, or by at least twenty-five (25) regular members for a stated reason. No business may be conducted at a special meeting other than for the stated reason.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings. Notice of all GENERAL AND SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP meetings shall be published in a county newspaper or the DACCA NEWSLETTER at least one week prior to the meeting. The notice shall include the date, time, location, and reason of meeting. Notice of Board meetings shall include notification by E-Mail, Postcard, or other means as practical.
Section 4. Quorum. Twenty-five (25) of the regular membership shall constitute a quorum, which shall be required to conduct business at a general membership meeting.
Section 5. Voting. Each regular member shall be entitled to one vote and may exercise this right only in person.
ARTICLE V
Officers and Directors
Section 1. Management. The Association shall be managed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of nine members, five of whom shall be the Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms), and four of whom shall be Associate Directors. The Board of Directors shall manage the business and affairs of the Association and be empowered to act for the Association between meetings. All decisions of the Board of Directors are subject to the ratification by the membership. Not more than three members of the Board of Directors may reside in any one subdivision. Unless removed as prescribed in Article V, Section 4, the outgoing President shall serve as a voting member of the Board of Directors for one term. This provision may be extended by majority vote of the board.
Section 2. Compensation. All members of the Board of Directors and committee chairpersons shall serve without compensation.
Section 3. Vacancies. All vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors other than that of the President shall be filled for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days of removal or resignation. In the event the office of President becomes vacant, the office shall be filled by the Vice President for the remainder of the term. In the event the office of Vice President becomes vacant, that office shall be filled from among the remaining members of the Board of Directors for the remainder of the term.
Section 4. Removal. Any member of the Board of Directors may be removed from office for cause at any meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote, provided such member shall have at least five days written notice of such proposed action prior to the meeting and is given the opportunity at the meeting to be heard. Any member of the Board of Directors who is removed from office under this Section shall be ineligible to serve on that body for two years following removal.
Section 5. Duties of the Board of Directors:
- The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association, and shall preside over all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors, and shall appoint all standing and special committees.
- The Vice-President shall serve in the absence or incapacitation of the President and at such times shall be vested with all the duties and powers of the President and shall be available for other duties as assigned by the President.
- The Secretary shall maintain the records of the Association and be available for other duties as assigned by the President.
- The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of all funds and securities of the Association, be responsible for their safe-keeping and authorized disbursements and shall maintain the financial records of the Association. He/She shall deposit all such monies in the name of the Association in such depository as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer will be available for other duties as assigned by the President.
- The Sergeant at Arms shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of all meetings of the Association and shall be available for other duties assigned by the President.
- The Associate Directors shall participate in the management of the business and affairs of the Association and shall be available for other duties as assigned by the President. Section 6. Liability. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be indemnified by the Association against expense actually and necessarily incurred by him/her in connection with the defense of any action, suit, or proceeding in which he/she is made a part by reason of his/her being or having been a member of the Board except in relation to matters to which he/she shall be judged, in such action, suit, or proceeding, to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his/her duties.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings of the Board of Directors
Section 1. The time and place of meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at times and places selected by the President. Special meetings may be called by the President and shall be called by the President at the request of any four members of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Notice of meetings. The Secretary shall notify all members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of all meetings at least two days before the meeting.
Section 3. Votes. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, each member of that body present shall be entitled to one vote.
Section 4. Quorum. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, which shall be required to conduct business at a Board of Directors meeting.
Section 5. Attendance. Any member of the Association shall have the right to attend meetings of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. A member of the Board of Directors who misses four meetings of the Board during his/her term may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII
Elections
Section 1. Eligibility. The President and Vice President shall have been members of the Board of Directors or a Committee Chairperson for at least one year immediately prior to their taking office.
Section 2. Nominations. A slate of nominees will be presented by the Nominating Committee at the elections meeting. Nominations can also be made by regular members from the floor of this meeting.
Section 3. Elections and term of office. The Board of Directors shall be elected to two-year terms by written ballot at a general or special meeting to be held during the final quarter of each even-numbered year. Terms of office shall run for two calendar years.
ARTICLE VIII
Committees
Section 1. Standing committees. The standing committees of this Association shall be Membership, Zoning, Town Center, and Education. Other standing committees may be appointed as necessary by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Special Committees. The President may appoint such special committees as deemed necessary.
Section 3. Committee Appointments. The President shall appoint the Chairperson of each committee in consultation with the Board of Directors. All Chairpersons shall report to the President or designated representative.
ARTICLE IX
Books and Records
Section 1. Books and Records. The books, records, and papers of the Association shall at all times, during reasonable hours, and upon reasonable notice having been given, be subject to inspection by any regular member. The Treasurer shall report on the financial transactions and condition of the Association annually at the first meeting of the year or at the request of the President or of a majority of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous
Section 1. Conduct of meetings. Parliamentary questions shall be settled according to the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 2. Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those regular members present at any general membership meeting, provided that a copy of the proposed amendment has been furnished the members at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting.
Section 3. Dissolution. In the event of dissolution of the Association, the assets remaining shall be divided equally among all regular and associate members after all expenses and legal obligations have been met.
