Bylaws

Bylaws

WARD PARKWAY HOMES ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

Article I – Name

1. The name of this organization shall be Ward Parkway Homes Association, Inc., hereafter referred to as the Association.

Article II – Principal Office

1. The principal office of the Association shall be the Post Office Box set up for the organization, or an address designated by the Board of Directors (“Board” or “Directors”).

Article III – Fiscal Year

1. The fiscal year of the Association shall be from October 1st through September 30th (“Fiscal Year”).

Article IV – Membership

1. The membership of the Association shall be limited to owners/renters residing in the area encompassing the South side of Gregory Blvd., the East Side of State Line, the North Side of Seventy Fifth Street, and the East Side of Washington Street, or areas that may be extended by the Board and approved by members.
2. Residents within the area designated in 3.01 above and payment of the Annual Dues shall be the requirements for membership.
3. The Association’s annual dues may be paid by the owner of the residence or by the occupant if the occupant is not the property owner. The dues-paying party shall hold the membership.
4. Dues may be set and approved by the membership at a meeting prior to the start of the applicable Fiscal Year.
5. The Board may decrease dues below the maximum set by the membership or establish discounts for such things as Senior Membership, etc.
6. Membership in the Association shall be nontransferable, except on transfer of legal title to the lot, and then only when such transfer is made on the books of the Association with consent by resolution of the Board.
7. Membership voting rights are limited to one vote per residence.

Article V – Purposes

1. The purpose of the Association is for the good and betterment of the neighborhood.
2. The Association expects its residents to keep their property within the bounds of the Codes and Ordinances of the City of Kansas City, Missouri.
3. The Association provides a mechanism for the membership to meet its neighbors through various social activities sponsored by the Association.
4. The Association works to improve the safety and security of the neighborhood by contracting with outside sources for such services as Security Patrol, etc., as may be authorized by the Board.

Article VI – Meetings

1. The Annual Meeting of the members of the Association for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting shall be held in Kansas City, Missouri, or at such other place as may be designated by the Board. The meeting shall be called by notice at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting.  Notice given by email, newsletter, Nextdoor.com, Facebook, or by posting the Notice on the Association’s website shall also constitute due notification.  In the event the Annual Meeting is postponed due to inclement weather or another cause beyond the control of Directors, the Directors may designate the date, time, and place for the rescheduled Annual Meeting without notice other than such designation.
2. Special meetings of the members shall be called in the manner after a five-day notice.
3. Meetings of the Board shall be held monthly, except as may be otherwise determined by the Board. The date and time of each monthly meeting shall be published.
4. A simple majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum to transact business and any matters coming before the monthly meeting.
5. The President or any two Directors may call a special meeting of the Board at any time and notice shall be given of such by phone, email or in writing, at least two days before the time of the meeting or by serving personally such notice on each Director one day before such meeting.
6. The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held during the month of October.
7. The meeting places of the Board and the Annual Meeting shall be decided by the Board.

Article VII – Directors

1. The Directors shall conduct, manage and control the affairs and business of the Association and shall make all necessary rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Missouri, or those for guidance of officers and management of the affairs of the Association. The Board shall consist of no more than nine (9) Directors, who shall be members of the Association, with a simple majority constituting a quorum for the transaction of business.
2. The Directors shall cause to be kept a reasonably complete record of all their minutes and acts. The Directors shall cause to be kept a statement of all monies collected and disbursed, and the general condition of the Association’s financial affairs.
3. The Directors may appoint and remove at will all agents, servants and employees of the Association and prescribe their duties and set any approved compensation.
4. The Directors shall be at-large representatives.
5. The term of Directors of the Association shall coincide with the Fiscal Year of the Association.
6. All Directors shall be bona fide residents of the Association’s boundaries and be members in good standing.
7. Directors for the Fiscal Year will be presented for vote of the membership prior to the Annual Meeting. Membership shall vote for each proposed Director individually by electronic ballot or, upon special request, by closed paper ballot.  Directors for the Fiscal Year will be installed at the Annual Meeting.
8. A prospective Director must attend at least three (3) consecutive monthly meetings of the Board, except as otherwise approved by a majority of Directors.
9. Vacancies on the Board shall be temporarily appointed by the elected officers for the remainder of the Fiscal Year after which they will stand for election at the Annual Meeting.
10. The Directors shall have and exercise such other powers and duties as set forth in these Bylaws and, together as described herein, are authorized to engage in such other activities as is in the best interest of the Association.
11. The Directors’ responsibilities shall be to:

• Bring positive ideas, dedication and enthusiasm to the Board.
• Regularly attend Board meetings.
• Support Board Committees through leadership and participation.
• Support and attend special events sponsored by the Association.
• Involve their neighbors in Association activities.
• Build on the strengths and ideas of other Board members.
• Recruit new Association members.
• Contribute time, articles, and information to the publications of the Association.
• Be an ambassador for our neighborhood to all of Kansas City.
• Assist in Association’s wide canvassing or distribution of materials.
• View their tenure on the Board as an opportunity to improve the quality of life for the members of the Association.

 

12. If any Director misses two (2) consecutive meetings without excuse sent to the President in advance of the meetings, or one-third of meetings in a Fiscal Year, the Board may remove said Director from the Board.  Such removal shall require a simple majority vote.
13. The Directors may elect a former Director as a “Director Emeritus”.
14.  In order to be considered for nomination as a Director Emeritus, a person must be a former Director who has served the Association with distinction; made or continues to make significant contributions to the Association; volunteered for one or more Association events or committees in the most recent Fiscal Year; and a bona fide resident of the Association’s boundaries and a member in good standing.
15.  The Executive Committee shall consider potential candidates for a Director Emeritus position and may nominate one or more individuals for a Director Emeritus position.
16.  The Executive Committee will present the nomination(s) along with supporting statements to the Directors for consideration.  A simple majority vote of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to approve an appointment.
17.  A Director Emeritus shall be entitled to attend all Board meetings.  A Director Emeritus shall not be subject to any attendance policy, counted in determining if a quorum is present at a meeting, entitled to hold an Officer position, or entitled to vote as a Director at any meeting.

Article VIII – Officers

1. The officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers shall be elected by the Board and will serve for a term of one year.  The term of officers shall coincide with the Fiscal Year of the Association.  All officers must be members of the Association in good standing.
2. The President shall preside over all membership meetings and all Board meetings and perform such other duties as are usually performed by the President or as may be conferred by the Board. The President’s authority shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Board.  A Director shall serve no more than three consecutive terms as President.  After a lapse of one Fiscal Year, a Director shall again be eligible to serve as President.
3. The Vice President shall have all of the powers and perform all of the duties in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall perform such other duties as may be conferred by the Board.
4. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the monthly, Annual, and any Special meetings of the Board. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as may be conferred by the Board.
5. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial matters of the Association, including the keeping of records and the receipt and distribution of funds. All monies will be deposited in such financial institutions as approved by the Board.  All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money in the name of the Association shall be signed by the Treasurer and another Director.  All purchases made with the Association credit card must be approved by the Treasurer and another Director.  The Board shall determine which Directors may be Association credit cardholders as necessary.  A credit card may be relinquished to the Treasurer by the cardholder at any time.  The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be conferred by the Board.
6. Books of the Association may be inspected at the beginning of the Fiscal Year by the incoming or outgoing President and one other Director. The Treasurer shall be present during any inspection of the books of the Association.
7. Any expenditure that is not a current budget item or exceeds an existing budget item must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee and be approved by a majority of the officers. Any officer submitting an expenditure in accordance with this procedure shall be prohibited from voting on said expenditure.
8. Service of legal process upon the Association shall be addressed to the President at his/her personal residence.

Article IX – Committees

1. The permanent committees of the Association shall be:
2. Communications – publicizes the activities and events of the Association; sends out all notices of Board meetings; researches the history of the neighborhood and publishes articles, photos, etc.; maintains relationships with various City of Kansas City, Missouri officials; monitors Association email account(s); maintains Association website.
3. Beautification – Is concerned with the appearance of the neighborhood through island landscaping and maintenance at 75th Street and Belleview Avenue/Madison Avenue; 72nd Terrace at Terrace Street; and 75th Street at Terrace Street.
4. Membership – responsible for sending out dues, notices and working to increase participation in the Association; coordinates the social activities of the Association; responsible for coordinating Association volunteers.
5. Security – monitors issues and identifies strategies to enhance safety and reduce crime; coordinates vacation house watch requests.
6. Finance – consists of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and any other interested Director(s) and will meet on an as-needed basis to gather any financial information, evaluate it against the current situation, and manage and make any recommendations to the Board as necessary.
7. Executive – consists of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
8. Other ad hoc or permanent committees may be appointed by the President with consent of the Board.
9. Committee members need not be Directors but must be members of the Association in good standing.

Article X – Voting

1. Any action which may be taken at a Board meeting may be taken via email without a meeting. Action is taken under this section only if a majority of Directors cast an affirmative vote via email for such action.
2. If decisions are required between monthly meetings, Board business may be conducted via email.
3. At any Annual Meeting of the Association, any matters coming before the meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present. There shall be no voting by proxy at any Annual Meeting.
4. The latest version of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the deliberations of the Association.
5. Except as otherwise described herein, at any monthly meeting of the Association, any matters coming before the meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of the Directors present.
6. Any Director may participate in a Board meeting by conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in such meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute the presence of such Director at such meeting.

Article XI – Bylaws, Amendments and Addendums

1. A copy of these Bylaws shall be available to each Director of the Association.
2. A copy of these Bylaws shall be available to each Association member via website.
3. These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Association by a simple majority of the members present.
4. The Association may be dissolved only with authorization by its Board given at a special meeting called for that purpose and with an approval of two-thirds of the Board. Upon dissolution or other termination of the Association, all remaining assets of the Association, after payment in full of all of its debts, obligations, and final expenses, shall be donated to such tax-exempt organization or organizations, as shall be selected by a majority of the Board.   If no such distribution is agreeable to the Board the remaining assets shall be donated to Harvesters-The Community Food Network.

Article XII – Investment Procedures

1. This Article provides the standard operating procedures concerning any investment account(s) maintained by the Association.
2. This Article is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws applicable to nonprofit organizations such as the Association.
3. The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to protect the assets of the Association and ensure that the assets are used to further the Association’s purposes.
4. Day-to-day responsibility for the Association’s investments shall be delegated to the Finance Committee.
5. The Finance Committee may hire a professional investment manager to monitor market values and benchmarks, provide advice, and carry out the purchase, sale, or trade of investments.
6. The Finance Committee shall continually monitor the performance of the Association’s investments and provide any necessary instructions to the manager.
7. Any instructions to the manager shall require the authorization of two members of the Finance Committee.

These Bylaws revised on the 1st day of August, 2023.