WHITE RIVER CITIZENS UNITED, INC.

           By-laws

           See also Amendments #1 and #2 following the by-laws
    (In particular, amendment #2 dealing with individual, at large memberships)


    I.  Mission Statement
    White River Citizens United is an alliance of White River Township neighborhood
    associations dedicated to engaging with County and City planning and governance bodies
    to:
  • Promote comprehensive and responsible land use planning in anticipation of rapid
    growth;
  • Assist governmental units in the preparation and enforcement of land use plans;
  • Assure that necessary infrastructure is in place in advance of further commercial
    and residential growth in the township; and
  • Represent the interests of township neighborhoods in preserving and enhancing
    their quality of life, property values, public safety, and the creation of recreational
    space.

    II.  Membership
    Membership is open to associations, which represent: single family dwellings, condos, or
    apartment renters.  Associations are members, not individuals.  All members must agree to
    carry out the following responsibilities:

  • Support the objectives and activities of WRCU including professional conduct,
    exercising caution with regard to media inquiries, and supporting WRCU’s mission
    statement;
  • Allow the name of your organization to be included as a member of WRCU in any
    verbal or written communication of WRCU; and
  • Designate a board member (or someone who regularly communicates with the
    board) to attend all regularly scheduled WRCU meetings.  This person must
    routinely keep his/her board members apprised of WRCU activities with the objective
    to perpetuate WRCU as an organization, both in terms of interest and financial
    solvency.

    WRCU membership consists of the following two categories of members:

     Full Members

  • This category must agree to remit the amount established annually by WRCU
    officers and deposit these funds with the WRCU treasurer by March 31 of each year.
  • This category may vote on all issues requiring a vote.
  • Failure to remit the amount established in a timely manner may result in a loss or
    temporary suspension of voting privileges at the sole discretion of the WRCU
    officers.

    Associate Members

  • This category does not commit to the annual budget amount established by WRCU
    officers.
  • This category (unless otherwise stated) may only vote on issues that do not involve
    expenditures.

    To obtain membership (either full or associate) approval must be received by a simple
    majority vote of those in the full member category.  Termination of membership can occur
    via a member’s request or through a majority vote of those in the full member category.

    III.  Voting
  • Each full or associate member has one vote
  • A majority (unless otherwise stated) is needed to pass any proposal.  A tie vote
    means a proposal fails to pass.
  • A quorum of 50% of those members who may vote on a particular proposal is
    needed before a proposal can be voted upon.
  • Members should have one person with voting authority in attendance at each
    meeting.
  • A proposal may be brought to vote by any member and must be seconded by
    another member.

    IV.  Officers
    There will be four officers:  president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.  These
    officers are elected for a term of two years with the president and secretary beginning their
    terms in odd-numbered years and the vice president and treasurer beginning their terms
    in even numbered years.  If an officer cannot fulfill a term, the remaining officers will
    appoint a replacement who will serve until the next election date for that position arrives
    and a new officer is elected.  There are no term limits.  No member may have more than
    two officers at any one time.

    Officer Responsibilities are as follows:

    President— Primary spokesperson for WRCU.  Schedule monthly meetings. Establish an
    agenda for and conduct those meetings.  Only the president is authorized to deal directly
    with or authorize others to contact our attorney.

    Vice President—Shall perform all duties of the president in his/her absence. Take
    meeting minutes when secretary is absent.  At year-end review, vice president reviews
    financial documentation prepared by treasurer to insure records are in order.
    Secretary—Take minutes at each meeting and keep official file of such.  Minutes of each
    meeting should include the following:  1) the meeting agenda;  2) the meeting minutes; and
    3) financial statements.  Keep official corporate documents (articles of  incorporation,
    bylaws, registrations, etc.) and perform updates and renewals as needed.  Keep the
    official membership list distinguishing full and associate members with their official mailing
    address and number of homes.

    Treasurer—Perform banking activities to include deposits, writing checks, and reconciling
    bank statements.  Maintain supporting documentation for all checks.  Issue invoices to
    homeowner’s associations upon request.   Obtain mail from P.O. box.   For each meeting,
    prepare the following:  1) a financial statement showing year-to-date receipts, expenses,
    and cash balance; and 2) a financial statement showing by association what has been
    “budgeted” for the year and the amount that has been received to date by WRCU.  File
    necessary state and federal tax forms and deal with other tax-related matters.

    In the event any officer consistently misses regularly scheduled meetings, the remaining
    officers may declare the position vacant and appoint a replacement. The replacement will
    serve until the next election for that position is held.

    V.  Annual Assessment
    It shall be the duty of the officers as a group to establish the following year’s assessment
    on a per home/lot basis by October 1.  Assessments are due March 31.

    VI.  Amendments to Bylaws
    Adoption of or amendments to the Bylaws require voting approval by a 2/3 majority of all
    members.

    VII.  Dissolution
    In the event of dissolution, any remaining cash balance shall be distributed to members in
    a ratio consistent with the ratio of the prior contributions that funded the ending balance.

        
    Amendment # 1 - passed January 9, 2006

  • WRCU officers have the authority to spend or authorize the spending of up to $100 without
    the approval or vote of the membership.  Any authorized expenditure of $100 or more
    requires membership approval through an affirmative vote of Full Members.  Amendment
    passed 09 Jan 2006.

  • Members failing to send a representative to three consecutive WRCU meetings will have
    their voting privileges suspended until a meeting has been attended by a member
    representative.  Members with suspended voting rights are excluded from the
    determination of whether a quorum is present.  (For example, for non-financial matters, if
    13 HOAs constitute WRCU’s entire set of members and 1 HOA has not sent a
    representative to 3 consecutive meetings, then the quorum is determined based on 12
    HOAs and not 13 HOAs.  Amendment passed 09 Jan 2006.`



                                  Amendment # 2 - passed September 7, 2006


    To fulfill the purpose of full representation of the White River community, there is
    hereby an At-Large Member, which instead of being a neighborhood association,
    shall instead be composed of any such individuals not represented by any existing
    Member who have expressed an interest in writing to White River Citizens United to join
    White River Citizens United as participants in the At-Large Member.

    So long as the At-Large Member has at least one individual participant and is in
    existence, the At-Large Member shall (a) designate one individual to serve from time to
    time as its representative at all regular and special White River Citizens United Meetings;
    and (b) have the voting power of other Associate Members.

    However, in any calendar year in which the At-Large Member should have at least
    twenty individual participants composing it who have contributed collectively to White
    River Citizens United that year at least a total of two hundred dollars ($200) or twenty
    times the per household membership rate set by and applied to other Members, whichever
    is greater, then the At-Large Member shall have the voting power of other Full Members
    in such calendar years.

    Should the At-Large Member grow to be over one hundred (100) participant individuals,
    The Members shall consider further amendment of these Bylaws and the creation of a
    Second At-Large Member as may be reasonable under the circumstances.