By Laws

ATTENTION: We have revised our By-Laws and are finalizing signature’s. The revised by laws will be updated here soon. Thank you for you patience.

Revision: 2023

ARTICLE I: ORGANIZATION NAME/DEFINED BOUNDARY

  1. The name of this non-profit organization shall be the MacDowell Community Council Inc, hereinafter to be referred to as the “MCCI.”
  1. The boundary extends from Meyers on the West, Seven Mile Road on the South, Wyoming Ave on the East and Pembroke on the North, including Van Antwerp Park.

ARTICLE II: MISSION

  1. The MCCI is dedicated to strengthening our Detroit community and will focus on improving the quality of life for the residents of MacDowell community, especially for our youth and senior citizens. Our organization seeks to initiate and support programs that will preserve our homes, support local business, enhance safety, create organized athletic and academic recreational opportunities, and establish places within the community that all residents can access and enjoy. The MCCI is committed to partnership with its residents, surrounding Detroit community organizations, and the city of Detroit to move forward on several neighborhood enhancement initiatives.

 

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

  1. The membership of this Council shall be residents (regardless of home ownership or renter status), property owners or businesses within the neighborhood.
  1. A Voting Member shall be a household or business that is positioned on or within the boundaries of the neighborhood. Each household or business within the neighborhood shall be entitled to one vote (must be present at Executive Board meetings to cast a vote).
  1. Dues are $5.00 per month per residential household. These dues must be paid to be eligible to vote on any proposals.
  1. Membership shall not be denied on the basis of views or opinions contrary to the goals and purposes of the Council.

ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE BOARD – OFFICERS

  1. The voting members of the Community Council shall nominate and elect the Officers of the organization.
  1. The Officers of this Council shall hold offices for a term of one (1) year or until successors are elected. The term of office shall begin on September 1 of each year.

The Officers of the Council shall be:

  1. President
  1. The President shall call and preside at all meetings, shall act for and in behalf of the membership of the Council, shall appoint any special committees necessary for the operation of the Council business, and shall act as official spokesperson for the Council.
  1. 1st Vice President
  1. The 1st Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, assume all of the duties of that office and shall be responsible for publicity and notifications of meetings of the Council.
  1. 2nd Vice President
  1. The 2nd Vice President shall oversee all subcommittees and provide guidance to the subcommittees on all initiatives.
  1. Secretary
    1. The Secretary shall keep a permanent record of all formal meetings and all legal documents and legal transactions of the Council. The secretary shall transcribe the minutes of each meeting and shall maintain a file copy of same and submit a copy of these minutes to the President for distribution. The Secretary shall collect all dues during meeting and keep a record of dues for each member. The Secretary shall pass the dues to the treasurer for deposit
  2. Treasurer
    1. The Treasurer shall keep all financial receipts and a permanent record of all financial business of the Council. An up-to-date financial report shall be submitted at each meeting. The Treasurer shall be responsible for membership records.
  1. Sergeant of Arms
    1. The Sergeant of Arms shall ensure order at meetings and is to act as the chapter’s chief parliamentarian and shall decide all issues of parliamentary procedure according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
  1. The Officers of the Council will comprise the Board of Directors.
  1. The Neighborhood Street Captains (or “Block Captain’s”) shall be composed of an appointee by the President from each street. The neighborhood Street Captains shall serve in the capacity of gathering and disseminating information critical to the implementation of the purpose of the organization. Every effort will be made to insure that neighborhood Street Captains serve specific blocks or streets within the Council boundaries.
  1. Any Officer can be removed from office by a 2/3rds majority vote of the dues paying membership after a special meeting has been requested at least ten (10) working days in advance.
  1. An Officer forfeits their term of office if he/she is absent from two consecutive council meetings without giving notice to the President. Officers with reporting duties will be required to submit reports to the President prior to the meetings that they will not attend; otherwise the absence will be treated as one without notice.

ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES

  1. The President shall have the power to appoint committees as necessary to implement the purposes of the organization.
  2. The 2nd Vice President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
  3. Standard Committees shall be the Events Committee, the Bylaws Committee, and the Newsletter Committee.
    1. Elections Committee
      1. Shall solicit for nominations beginning in August of each year, develop a voting ballot, and conduct the elections procedures at the September meeting.
  1. Events Committee
    1. Shall coordinate and execute all events sponsored by the MCC.
  1. Bylaws Committee
    1. Shall conduct a bi-annual review of the Bylaws to ensure relevance and upon completion of the review will propose amendments to the committee at the annual meeting.
  1. Newsletter Committee
    1. Shall design, develop, and disseminate a bi-monthly newsletter to residents with information relevant to the membership.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

  1. An annual meeting shall be held during the month of September at a time and place designated by the President.
  1. Five Voting Members present shall constitute a quorum.
  1. At minimum, a 3 day notice shall be provided in advance of all monthly council meetings.
  1. Every effort will be made to notify all interested parties and members of the council of upcoming meetings either by electronic and/or direct mailing, pamphlets, newsletters, or announcements at regularly scheduled meetings.
  1. All meetings shall be public and open to any interested persons within our boundary.

ARTICLE VII: NOMINATION, ELECTIONS, AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

  1. Any active member of the MCCI may nominate himself or herself for any office. An active member may run for only one office during an election cycle.
  1. The election of Officers shall be held at the September meeting in an election year and shall be conducted by secret ballot. Only active members may vote. A majority vote shall elect a given candidate to office.
  1. Upon installation of the Officers whose terms begins in September. All documents, records, and any materials pertaining to the duties of the office as designated in the bylaws which are in the possession of the outgoing Officers shall be submitted to the newly elected counterpart within days of the installation.
  1. Any vacancies occurring during the year of any Officer shall be filled by Presidential appointment of an active member with the approval of the Executive Board.
  1. Any Officer may be removed from office for cause by a majority vote of the voting members.
  1. An Officer forfeits his/her term of office if he/she is absent from two consecutive council meetings without giving notice to the President. Officers with reporting duties will be required to submit reports to the President prior to the meetings that they will not attend; otherwise the absence will be treated as one without notice.

ARTICLE VIII: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY 

  1. Expenditure of funds of the Council may not be made without the signatures of the President or Vice President.
  1. Financial records and funds of the Council shall be audited at least twice a year by a committee of at least two (2) Voting Members of the Neighborhood Street Captains appointed by the President prior to a new Treasurer’s taking office.
  1. All monies of the MCCI received by the Treasurer shall be deposited in a checking account of the MCCI. All monies are property of the MCC.
  1. A record of these funds shall be kept current, reflecting all deposits, withdrawals, and bank charges.
  1. Funding sources shall come from membership dues, donations, sponsorships, government entities, and grant funding.
  1. If the MCCI is dissolved or inactive for a period of a year or more, all remaining funds held in the MCCI’s checking account, which are not required, by law, to be returned to a governmental agency and/or to the donor of grant monies, will be divided equally among those who were registered as active members at the close of the last scheduled Council meeting.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

  1. These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote.
  1. Proposed amendments shall be sent via electronic mail to all members at least 5 working days in advance of the meeting where action is to be taken and shall be read at the presiding meeting.

ARTICLE X: GENERAL

  1. The rules in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the Council, the Board of Directors, and all subcommittees in all cases to which they apply and do not conflict with the specific provisions of this organization and its Bylaws or any special rules that the council may adopt.
  1. If any part of the Bylaws or the application thereof is hereafter held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall not be affected thereby, and only the affected portions are declared eliminated.
  1. No Officer, representative, spokesperson or member shall have any financial liability of the Council

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