As Amended June 20, 1978

BY-LAWS OF BELMONT HARBOR NEIGHBORS

ARTICLE I —— PURPOSE

The purpose of the Belmont Harbor Neighbors shall be exclusively educational, scientific and civic.  It is organized:

(1)         to provide an opportunity for those who live, work or are identified with the civic, social or business interests of the area to work together for the common good of the Belmont Harbor community,

(2)         to assemble, correlate and disseminate information about conditions in the area and the means of eliminating un­wholesome and blighting features, the quality and availability of public and private community services, the provisions of the law pertaining to these matters and the resources available for the development of plans for the conservation, redevelopment and general improvement of the community;

(3)         to plan, study and test measures for the maintenance and improvement of both the physical and social environment of the community;

(4)         to promote community discussion of these matters, and

(5)         to train community leadership.

Such activities shall be carried on without reference to race, creed, or national origin and shall be in cooperation with governmental, religious, charitable and other educational, civic, scientific or community organizations.

ARTICLE II — NAME & ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization shall be the BELMONT HARBOR NEIGHBORS (sometimes referred to as “BHN”). Belmont Harbor Neighbors is organized as a Branch organization of the Lake View Citizens’ Council (sometimes referred to as “LVCC”) pursuant to, and under and subject to the By-Laws and Charter of the Lake View Citizens’ Council.

ARTICLE III — GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Section 1:                Present boundaries.

The geographic area of operation of the Belmont Harbor Neighbors (hereinafter referred to as “Belmont Harbor’) is that part of the City of Chicago, Illinois bounded by:

NORTH —                  a line running East and West down the middle of Addison Avenue between Lake Michigan and the intersection of Addison and Halsted;

WEST —                     a line running North and South down the middle of Hasted between the intersection of Halsted and Addison and the intersection of Halsted and Belmont;

SOUTH —                  a line running East and west down the middle of Belmont between the intersection of Halsted and Belmont and Lake Michigan 

EAST —                      Lake Michigan.

Section 2:        Modification of Boundaries.

The geographic area of operation of Belmont Harbor Neighbors may be modified in the following manner:

(a)         Resolution of the Board of Directors of BRN ratified by the Board of Directors of LVCC; or

(b)        Resolution of the Board of Directors of LVCC ratified by the Board of Directors of BHN.

ARTICLE IV -- MEMBERSHIP.

Section 1:        General.

There shall be two classes of membership in BHN: Residential and Institutional. Any resident or institution, as subsequently defined, may become a member only by compliance with the pro­visions of this ARTICLE IV.

Section 2:        Eligibility.

(a)        Residential Membership: All persons eighteen (18) years of age or older who reside or work in Belmont Harbor are eligible for residential membership.

(b)        Institutional Membership: All civic, social, religious, educational or business organizations functioning in Belmont Harbor are eligible for institutional membership.

Section 3:        Member-In-Good Standing and Dues.

(a) Dues - Individuals: Any person who is eligible for member­ship in Belmont Harbor Neighbors shall become a Member—In— Good—Standing upon the payment of One Dollar ($1.00) to the treasury of BHN.

(b)        Dues - Institutional: Any institution which is eligible for membership in Belmont Harbor Neighbors shall become a Member-In-Good-Standing upon the payment of Five Dollars ($5.00) to the treasury of BHN.

(c)        Term of Member Status: Upon fulfillment of the membership requirements of these By-laws, a person or institution shall retain the status of member from the date of payment of his dues until ten days prior to the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE V   BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1:        General Powers and Functions.

The government, of the Belmont Harbor Neighbors shall be vested in a Board of Directors. The Board shall have full power and authority to function as the governing body of BHN and to under­take and conduct any and all activities which it may consider necessary or expedient in accomplishing the purposes of BHN.

Section 2:        Composition and Tenure.

(a)        Elected Directors: The Board of Directors shall consist of ten (10) Elected Directors elected at the Annual Meeting in such manner as provided in these By-laws. Each such Director shall be a Resident Member of BBN and shall serve until the Annual meeting next following his election to the Board.

(b)        Institutional Directors: At any meeting subsequent to the Annual Meeting, the Elected Directors may elect Institutional Directors from civic, social, religious, educational, or business organizations functioning in Belmont Harbor; provided, however, that no more than five (5) Institutional Directors shall serve on the Board at any one time. Such Institutional Directors shall have the sane powers as the Elected Directors, except as otherwise provided in these By-laws. Each such Institutional Director shall serve until the Annual Meeting next following his election to the Board.

(c)    Special Directors: At any meeting subsequent to the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors may elect, by vote of two- thirds of the Elected Directors in attendance, such Special Directors as it deems desirable; provided, however, that no more than five (5) Special Directors shall serve on the Board at any one time; and provided further that each Special Director shall be a resident of, or have his place of primary employment located in Belmont Harbor. Such Special Director shall have the same powers as Elected Directors, except as otherwise provided in these By-laws. Each such Special Director shall serve until the Annual Meeting next following his election to the Board.

Section 3:                     Meetings.

(a)         Regular Meetings: The Board shall meeting regular monthly session at a time and place convenient to the residents of Belmont Harbor. The Board may discontinue Regular Meetings during the summer months by majority vote.

(b)Special Meetings: Special Meetings of the Board may be called by the President or upon request in writing of five (5)        Directors upon at least two (2) days’ prior notice.

(c)         Open Meetings: All meetings of the Board, or any committee thereof, shall be open to the public.

(a)        Procedure: One-third of the total number of Directors shall constitute a quorum. No business may be conducted in the absence of a quorum. Other procedure will be generally informal; but in case of irreconcilable conflict, Robert’s Rules of Order shall prevail.

Section 4:                     Vacancies and Removals.

(a)         Filling of Vacancies: A vacancy of any Elected Directorship shall be immediately filled by majority vote of the remaining Elected Directors from among the Resident Members of BHN. A vacancy in any other Directorship may be filled by majority vote of the Elected Directors.

(b)        Removals: The Board may declare vacant the office of any Director who has been absent for three (3) or more consecutive meetings. The Board may remove any Elected Director by a two— thirds vote or any other Director by a majority vote of these Directors present.

Section 5:                     Election of Elected Directors.

(a)         Nomination: Nominations for Elected Directors shall be made by a Nominating Committee with additional nominations by written petition. The Nominating Committee may nominate more candidates than there are Directors to be elected, but shall not nominate more than twice the number of Directors to be elected. The Nominating Committee shall publish its nominations at least 20 days prior to the Annual Meeting. Additional nominations may be made by presenting to the Secretary, at least 15 days prior to the Annual meeting, a written petition signed by the nominee and at least three (3) other members of BHN.

The names of all nominees shall be mailed by the Secretary to the members of BHN at least seven (7) days prior to the Annual Meeting.

(b)        The election of elected Directors shall be held at the Annual Meeting of the Belmont Harbor Neighbors at such time, date and place as the Board of Directors shall fix, notice of which shall be directed to the membership simultaneously with the names of the nominees.  Each, resident member and institutional member shall have one vote for each directorship to be filled; there shall be no cumulative voting and no person may vote in an. institutional capacity and resident membership capacity.

Members eligible to vote shall be members in good standing, no less than ten days prior to the annual meeting; said day shall terminate at six P.M.

Nominees with the highest vote total shall be declared elected and, in the event of a tie, the parties so tied shall determine who shall serve in office as between them upon the tossing of a coin by a person mutually acceptable to the parties so tied.

ARTICLE VI —— OFFICERS.

Section 1:        General.

The officers of BEN shall consist of at least the following:  President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Board of Directors may select from its membership such other officers as it deems necessary or desirable.

Section 2:        President.

(a)         Nomination and Election The President shall be elected at the Annual Meeting from among the Resident Members by vote of the membership. The Nominating committee shall nominate at least one (1) candidate for the office of President and shall publish its nominations at least 20 days prior to the Annual meeting.  Additional nominations may be made by presenting to the Secretary, at least 15 days prior to the Annual Meeting, a written petition signed by the nominee and at least ten (10) other members of BHN. The names of all nominees shall be mailed by the Secretary to the members of BHN at least seven (7) days prior to the Annual Meeting.

The election of the President shall be held at the Annual Meeting simultaneously with the election of Directors. Each Resident Member and each Institutional Member shall have one vote; the person casting the vote of an Institutional Member shall not be prohibited, if eligible, from casting his personal vote as a Resident Member.

The candidate with a majority (more than 50%) of the total votes shall be declared the President. If no candidate receives a majority on the first ballot, there shall be a run—off between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. Such run—off shall be conducted at the same Annual Meeting.

(b)        Tenure: The President shall serve until his successor shall be duly elected.

(c) Functions: The President shall be the chief executive officer. He shall preside at all meetings of the Board as the Member­ship, and shall be an ex—officio member of all committees.

Section 3:        Treasurer and Secretary.

(a)         Election: At its first meeting subsequent to the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall elect a Treasurer and a Secretary from its membership.

(b) Tenure: The Treasurer and Secretary shall serve until successors shall be duly elected.

(c)         Duties: The Treasurer shall have charge of all receipts and disbursements of the organization. Any two officers shall sign all checks. All monies shall be banked as directed the the Board.

The secretary shall take the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors, of the Annual fleeting, and of such general meetings as shall be convened in accordance with these By—laws. The Secre­tary shall give notice of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the membership.

Section 4:        other Officers.

The Board of Directors shall elect from its membership such other officers as it deems necessary or expedient. Such officers shall serve until the Annual Meeting next following their election.

ARTICLE VII -- MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS.

Section 1:        Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting shall be held within forty (40) days of the Lake View Citizens’ Council Annual Meeting but no later than June 30, at a place designated by the Board of Directors within the geo­graphic boundaries of Belmont Harbor. Notice shall be given at least two weeks prior to the date of such meeting.

Section 2:        Required Membership Meeting~.

The Board of Directors shall, as prescribed herein₇ call at least two (2) Membership Meetings in addition to the Annual Meeting. One such meeting shall be held between September 1 and December 31, and the other shall be held between January 1 and March 31.

Section 3:        special Meetings.

(a)         By Action of the Board: The Board of Directors may call a special Meeting of the Membership ah any time. Such meeting shall be held at a location convenient to residents of Belmont Harbor.

(b)        By Petition to the President: A Special Meeting of the Membership shall be held within thirty—one (31) days of the receipt by the President of a petition signed by ten (10) members—in--good-standing, which petition shall contain a statement of the reason for such Special Meeting. Such meeting shall be held at a location, selected by the President, which is convenient to the residents of Belmont Harbor.

(c)        Notice: At least seven (7) days notice of any Membership Meeting and a statement of the purpose and business to the transacted thereat shall be given to all members, and an effort shall be made to inform the entire community.

ARTICLE VIII — COMMITTEES

Section 1:  Nominating Committee.                                                                              

The President, with the consent of the Board, shall appoint a Nominating Committee to consist of seven (7) members of Belmont Harbor Neighbors, three (3), and only three (3), of whom shall be Elected Directors arid at least two (2) of whom shall not be Directors. The Nominating Committee shall nominate candidates for the Board of Directors and Officers. The Nominating Committee shall be selected nominees so as to make the Board as representative as possible of the total area.

Section 2:        Other Committees.

The President and the Board shall appoint such other committees as it deems necessary or expedient.

Section 3:        Representatives to the LVCC Board.

The BHN representatives on the LVCC Board of Directors shall be the incumbent president of BHN and such Elected Director or past president as the Elected Directors shall select. These represen­tatives shall follow the instructions of the BHN Board as to specific issues and, in other cases, shall attempt to reflect the attitude of the Board.

Section 4:        Committees of the Lake View Citizens’ Council.

The President, with the consent of the Board, shall appoint at least one (1) representative of BHN to serve or₄éach committee of the Lake View Citizens’ Council.

ARTICLE IX — AMENDMENTS

These By—laws may be amended at any Membership Meeting by an affirmative vote of the majority of those present, provided copies of the proposed amendment(s) has been sent to the members in writing with Notice of the meeting.

The following amendments to the By-Laws were approved by the Board of Directors on 5/l9/81. They are here presented for your approval:

  Section 2: Tenure                                                                                             

a) Change from each Director ... shall serve until the annual meeting next following...to ‘Shall serve until a successor shall be elected.’

ARTICLE v -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  Section 2: Past President

d) A seat on the Board of Directors shall be reserved for a one (1) year term upon the retirement of any incumbent president commencing with the first Board meeting after the annual meeting providing such retired president, shall have served to the end of the term.

Section 2: Block Clubs and Condominium Assoc.

e) The Board shall provide a seat for such Block clubs and Condominium Associations as may request a seat upon showing of at least 3 general membership meetings in the past 12 months where a reasonable portion of die meeting was devoted the public service or informational matters and where there is an established elected executive committee or Board of Directors to serve between general  membership meetings.

The Board of Directors of BHN has endorsed the selling of the magazine ‘The Rehabber'. This magazine regularly sells for $10.00 per year but it is being offered to the membership of BHN for $8.00 per year - $2.00 of which will then be turned over to BHN. The magazine well worth the purchase price. I urge that you do subscribe. Copies will be available at the annual meeting so that you can see it.