Article I. Boundaries

Section 1. The geographical boundaries for the Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League (the "League") are as follows: Colonial Place is bounded on the north and west by Mayflower Road, on the east by the "paper street" Mayflower Road (in actuality, the Haven Creek bike path and the Colonial Place Greenway); and on the south by 38th Street (only the north side of 38th Street is included). Riverview is bounded on the west by Granby Street, on the north and east by the "paper street" Beach Avenue, and on the south by La Vallette Avenue.

Article II. Objectives

Section 1. The objectives of the League are to promote the development of our neighborhoods as a better place to live; to unite for cooperation and interchange of ideas; to encourage the participation of all interested individuals in the activities of the League; to further the best interest of these neighborhoods towards beautification, historical appreciation, recreation, the safety and security of its residents, and the protection of their property.

Section 2. The League shall not endorse candidates for political office.

Article III. Membership and Voting

Section 1. Any adult resident or property owner 18 years or older of the Colonial Place or Riverview neighborhoods shall be a member upon payment of annual dues.

Section 2. Any non-resident non-property owner who wishes to join the League may make application to the Board of Directors of the League (the "Board"). Upon approval by a majority of the Board and payment of annual dues, such non-resident shall be a member.

Section 3. Annual membership shall be for up to one calendar year (January 1st to December 31st). Membership shall commence under the earliest of the following three conditions: 1) the membership card is issued, 2) five business days after the postmarked date in which membership dues were sent to the League's Post Office Box, or 3) five business days after the treasurer or membership committee chairperson received, in hand, the membership dues. Membership shall expire for all members on December 31st of the last year for which dues have been paid, except that a grace period of 60 days for the payment of the next year's dues shall be extended to all members during which time the member shall retain all rights of a paid member.

Section 4. The annual dues of the League shall be $10.00 per member, except for members age 65 or older, whose annual dues shall be $5.00. Members whose membership starts before July 1st shall pay for the next calendar year's dues and no dues will be required for the current calendar year.

Section 5. All members are entitled to one vote. Only members actually present have the right to vote. Proxy voting is not permitted.

Article IV. Officers and Board of Directors

Section 1. Elective officers and the primary duties inherent in each office are defined as follows:

A. President - The president shall chair all League meetings and Board meetings and shall act as the official representative and spokesperson of the League unless that responsibility is delegated by the president, the League membership, or these Bylaws to another person. The president shall prepare the agenda for all Board meetings. The president is an ex-officio member of all committees.

B. Vice President - The vice president shall be responsible for arranging guest speakers and other programs to be featured at membership meetings. The vice president shall also assist the president in the execution of presidential responsibilities and act on behalf of the president during the president's absence or inability to attend to duties.

C. Treasurer - The treasurer shall have custody of all funds of the League and deposit same in the name of the League in such federally insured bank or banks as the Board may choose. The treasurer shall prepare and present an annual budget for the approval of the Board at the May meeting of the Board and for review by League members at the annual meeting. The treasurer shall prepare and present an accounting of all receipts and disbursements in monthly reports to the Board and to the League, and shall deliver an annual report to the annual meeting of the League.

D. Secretary - The secretary shall record the minutes of all League and Board meetings and submit them to the respective bodies for approval, provide copies of minutes to Board members prior to the meetings at which they are to be approved and maintain the minutes of the League in good order, transferring them to the secretary's successor upon election. The secretary shall notify Board members of the time and place of Board meetings and shall provide agendas for all regularly scheduled Board and membership meetings.

E. Neighborhood Representative - The neighborhood representative shall be a resident of and represent either neighborhood if, after the election of the other four elected officers, such neighborhood is not otherwise represented by another elected officer.

Section 2. The officers and chairpersons of standing committees constitute the Board.

Section 3. The Board shall:

A. Assist in guiding the League toward the achievement of its objectives outlined in Article II;

B. Be responsible for coordinating the activities of the League and League Committees;

C. Prepare the agenda for all regular League meetings.

Section 4. No officer or member of the League shall represent the League in any matter without prior approval of the Board.

Section 5. Any officer who fails to attend three consecutive League or Board meetings without good cause may be removed from office in accordance with Section 6 of this article.

Section 6. Any officer who fails to perform the duties of such office may be removed, following 15 days' written notice from the Board, by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at the next League meeting.

Section 7. Interim vacancies of office will be filled by special election at the next League meeting, following notice in the newsletter.

Article V. Committees

Section 1. The League shall be supported by seven standing committees:

A. Community Improvement - The Community Improvement Committee shall assess the effectiveness of the Occupancy Permit program on an ongoing basis and make recommendations to the the Board for the improvement of the program, shall receive complaints regarding the visual and physical condition of privately owned properties in the neighborhoods, and shall transmit the views of the League on said topics to the appropriate authorities. The committee shall also work with the City of Norfolk on the upkeep of streets, sidewalks, street lights, and public signs.

B. Crime Prevention - The Crime Prevention Committee shall coordinate neighborhood block security programs with the Police Department and citizens of Colonial Place and Riverview and present crime awareness programs to the League.

C. Membership Committee - The Membership Committee shall be responsible for recruiting and registering new members and coordinating promotional efforts of the League.

D. Beautification Committee - The Beautification Committee shall coordinate neighborhood clean-up activities and provide horticultural information to the residents. The committee shall serve as liaison with city agencies concerning the appearance and improvement of public spaces in Colonial Place and Riverview.

E. Publicity Committee - The Publicity Committee shall transmit correspondence and publicity as requested by the president of the Board.

F. Newsletter Committee - The Newsletter Committee shall publish a newsletter on a monthly basis. The newsletter shall provide timely notice of the next membership meeting, and shall identify the major topics expected to be discussed at the next membership meeting.

G. Newsletter Distribution Committee - The Newsletter Distribution Committee shall distribute the newsletter so as to provide timely notice of the membership meetings. The Newsletter Distribution Committee shall distribute the newsletter to all members and shall strive to distribute the newsletter to all other households in Colonial Place and Riverview.

Section 2. The Chairpersons of the standing committees shall be appointed by and serve at the discretion of the elected officers, such appointments to be made at the annual meeting of the Board.

Section 3. The president is an ex-officio member of all standing committees but shall not chair any committee.

Section 4. Each committee shall consist of not less than two League members, not counting the president.

Section 5. The president shall appoint ad hoc committee chairpersons as the need arises.

Section 6. Members of each committee shall be appointed by the chairperson of that committee. All committees shall be open to volunteering members. No volunteer shall be excluded or removed by a chairperson without good cause.

Article VI. Finances

Section 1. All expenditures in excess of $100.00 shall be contained in a membership approved budget or approved in advance by the membership at a meeting. All expenditures shall be approved in advance by the Board.

Section 2. All checks shall be signed by the president, vice-president, or the treasurer, and all checks in excess of $250.00 shall be signed by any two of said officers.

Section 3. Claims for expenses incurred on behalf of the League must be submitted to the treasurer within 45 days of the day the expense was incurred, else such expense shall not, under ordinary circumstances, be reimbursed.

Section 4. The treasurer's books shall be audited annually by an ad hoc committee of three members, the results of which shall be announced no later than the August meeting of the League.

Article VII. Meetings and Quorums

Section 1. The League shall hold regularly scheduled monthly meetings, with the June meeting to be the annual meeting of the League.

Section 2. Special meetings of the League shall be held at the call of the president or at the request of at least seven League members.

Section 3. Twenty members, including at least two officers, shall constitute a quorum for regularly scheduled membership meetings.

Section 4. Membership and Board meetings shall be governed by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, except that in the event of a conflict with these Bylaws, these Bylaws shall control.

Section 5. The Board shall hold regularly scheduled monthly meetings, which shall be open to the membership, with the first Board meeting after the League annual meeting to be the annual meeting of the Board.

Section 6. Four Board members shall constitute a quorum of a Board meeting.

Article VIII. Elections

Section 1. A nominating committee shall be named at the April League meeting. This committee will be comprised of three members. At least one member of the nominating committee shall have been a resident for seven years or longer and at least one member of the nominating committee shall have been a resident for less than seven years.

Section 2. The nominating committee shall nominate a slate of officers of one or more names for each elective office at the May meeting. Nominations for elective offices may also be made from the floor. All nominations made at the May meeting shall be published in the next newsletter.

Section 3. The election of officers shall take place at the League annual meeting in June.

Section 4. No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office. For the purposes of this Section 4, any period of six months or less shall not constitute a term.

Section 5. Each officer's term shall commence upon the conclusion of the meeting at which such officer was elected.

Section 6. If any position is not filled at the annual meeting, then it shall be treated as an interim vacancy, as provided in Article IV, Section 7.

Article IX. Amendments

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a majority of members present and voting at any regular League meeting, provided a quorum is present and prior notice of the substance of the proposed amendment has been given in the newsletter.

A copy of the 1986 Bylaws with amendments appended is also available.