CLARIFICATION of changes to the Rosedale Neighborhood Association Bylaws

Voted on February 5, 2019

This document summarizes the proposed changes to the Rosedale Neighborhood Association by-laws based on amended by-laws from that same date. This document details the changes from the February 23, 2009 version of the by-laws and the February 5, 2019 version of the by-laws.

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Change of “Co-President” to “President” throughout and expansion of possible number to be “one to three” rather than “two to three”

• Motivation: the formulation “Co-President” is unnecessary; in practice, it works for the President role to be filled by one person
• Affected sections:
  • III.1, VI.1, VI.2, VII.2 (twice), VII.12, IX.2, X.7

Adjustments to verbs

• Motivation: ensure the verbs in use are accurate indicators of intention
• Affected sections:
  • III.6 (“help educate” rather than “facilitate the education of”)
  • V.1 (“are” rather than “shall be”)
  • V.2 (“includes” rather than “shall include”)
  • V.3 (“are” rather than “shall be”)
  • V.6 (“can” rather than “shall”)
  • V.7 (“can” rather than “shall”)
  • V.8 (“constitutes” rather than “shall constitute”)
  • VI.1 (“are” rather than “shall be”)
  • VII.1 (“serve” rather than “shall serve”)
  • VIII.5 (“presents” rather than “shall present”)
  • IX.2 (“are” rather than “shall be”)
  • XII.3 (“take” rather than “shall take”)

Clarify that members of the Steering Committee are members of the RNA

• Motivation: ensure the criteria for Steering Committee membership are clear
• Affected sections:
  • V.1 — added “composed of RNA members”

Clarify the term limit recommendation

• Motivation: in practice, only the officer positions, and in particular the president position, have had a particular need for term limits
• Affected section:
  • V.4 — replaced the sentence “It is recommended as a general rule that an individual serve at most two consecutive terms of any one office.” by the sentence “It is recommended that an individual serve in the same officer position for at most two consecutive terms.”

Clarify that household partners can each serve as full members of the Steering Committee

• Motivation: in practice, many household partners have participated in separate positions on the Steering Committee and each has deserved a full voice
• Affected section:
  • V.5 — replaced the sentence “Household partners may occupy one office and serve as a team; however, theirs will constitute only one vote.” by “Household partners may both serve on the Steering Committee, either as a team for a single position or in separate positions. Each partner’s vote counts as an individual Steering Committee member.”

Clarify the on-going roles by rewording the definition of delegate

• Motivation: The need for delegates varies as new organizations come into being for new activities. By making the description more general with the ANC as an example, the criteria are present but there is better flexibility for the Steering Committee to respond to current needs.
• Affected section:
  • VII.3 — replaced “Austin Neighborhoods Council Delegate” by “Delegates to other civic
    organizations, such as the Austin Neighborhood Council”

Update the requirements for how the annual meeting should be announced

• Motivation: The RNA website has become a strong presence for the Steering Committee and the majority of neighborhood residents now use the Internet regularly. The expense and logistics of distributing a paper newsletter have been a burden at times, so by rewording this requirement, the process becomes streamlined.
• Affected section:
  • VIII.4 — replaced “The annual general meeting shall be announced via a paper newsletter, the electronic mailing list, and on the RNA website.” by “The annual general meeting shall be announced through the electronic mailing list and on the RNA website. It may also be announced by paper newsletter or other notice.”

Addition of a requirement that the RNA’s financial matters be reported at the annual meeting

• Motivation: It has been the practice to present this information at the annual meeting. This point has been added to make clear it is an expectation.
• New section:
  • VIII.6 “At the annual meeting, the treasurer shall present a summary of the RNA financial
    transactions for the past year as well as fund balances.”

Add a new criteria for regular RNA meetings

• Motivation: No meeting is needed if there are no points for discussion
• Affected section:
  • IX.1 — Added the phrase “and the need for a meeting”, resulting in “with the annual schedule determined by the availability of the meeting room and the need for a meeting.”

Update the requirements for how amended by-laws should be announced

• Motivations:
  • The RNA website has become a strong presence for the Steering Committee and the majority of neighborhood residents now use the Internet regularly. The expense and logistics of distributing a paper newsletter have been a burden at times, so by rewording this requirement, the process becomes streamlined.
  • Clarified the description of the steps and notification.
• Affected sections:
  • XIII.2 introduction — replaced “open” by “available” and removed the phrase “either regular monthly meetings or the annual meeting”
  • XIII.2 first bullet — replaced “amendment may be” by “amended by-laws are”
  • XIII.2 second bullet — combined two bullets from the earlier version of the by-laws to describe the posting and notification process following the first meeting
  • XIII.2 fourth bullet — replaced “from” with “by”
  • XIII.3 — Replaced “Amended by-laws” by “The amended by-laws”

Clarify who is eligible to participate in meetings

• Motivation: Make clear that the residents and real property owners entitled to participate in the RNA meetings are those who are eligible to be RNA members.
• Affected section:
  • IX.1 — Added the phrase “eligible to be RNA members”, resulting in “All residents and real property owners eligible to be RNA members are entitled to participate in these meetings.”