Bylaws

Bylaws of the Berwyn District Civic Association, Inc.


Adopted March 16, 2017


ARTICLE 1 - NAME AND PURPOSE


Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the “Berwyn District Civic Association, Inc.” (BDCA). The BDCA’s official web address is https://www.myberwyn.org.


Section 2. The Berwyn neighborhood is the area bounded on the east by the CSX railroad tracks, on the west by U.S. Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue), on the north by Maryland highway 193 (University Boulevard) and on the south by the subdivision lines of Lakeland.


Section 3. The purpose of the BDCA is to stimulate the community’s interest in promoting civic, community, and general welfare, giving special attention to public improvements beneficial to the Berwyn neighborhood.


Section 4. BDCA activities shall be conducted on a non-partisan, non-political, and non-sectarian basis. The BDCA reserves the right to advocate or oppose any legislation or issues affecting the welfare of the Berwyn neighborhood, as formally authorized by the membership or Board.


Section 5. A copy of these bylaws shall be kept as a public record in the Maryland State Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD, and posted on the BDCA web site.


ARTICLE 2 - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES


Section 1. Membership in the BDCA is open to individuals eighteen (18) years of age and older who reside in the Berwyn neighborhood, City of College Park and whose dues are paid to date.


Section 2. Annual membership dues shall be determined by the BDCA’s Executive Board.


Section 3. Failure to have paid dues shall automatically deprive members of the right to vote in the business of the BDCA until said dues are paid.


Section 4. Members who paid individual dues shall have one vote.


Section 5. A family membership entitles a family to having two separate voting members.


Section 6. There shall be no proxy voting.


ARTICLE 3 - OFFICERS


Section 1. The officers of the BDCA shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Recording and/or Correspondence Secretary, and a Treasurer. None of the officers shall receive any salary or compensation for services rendered to the BDCA.


Section 2. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the BDCA and shall preside at all regular and special meetings. The President shall prepare the agenda for all regular and called meetings, sign all contracts and agreements in the name of the BDCA, normally serve as the representative of the BDCA in meetings and discussions with other organizations and agencies, provide leadership to the board in expediting the goals of the BDCA, and cast the deciding vote in case of a tie when votes are taken Board or regular meetings. The President shall appoint the Chairs of all committees unless otherwise directed by the bylaws or by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present when a committee is appointed. The President may also appoint Representatives to keep the BDCA informed of pertinent measures deemed important by the BDCA.


Section 3. The Vice President(s) shall perform all the duties of the President in his/her absence or inability to act. They shall also assist the President in performing official duties when requested to do so and perform other tasks as may be assigned by the Board.


Section 4. The Recording Secretary shall keep a correct and complete record of the proceedings of the BDCA, maintain the Minutes Book of the BDCA with a roll of members and guests present at each called and regular meetings, and maintain a current listing, with phone numbers and addresses of the officers of the BDCA. The Recording Secretary is responsible for notifying the members of all meetings as directed by the bylaws. The Recording Secretary maybe a shared position.


The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct all correspondence ordered by the BDCA pertaining to its business and shall file all communications and copies of correspondence for preservation.


Section 5. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all funds for the BDCA and receive and deposit all funds into the proper account, record and monitor receipts and disbursements from the account at the directions of the BDCA, keep accurate books and records of the finances of the BDCA; prepare a financial accounting for BDCA meetings, and prepare end of the year accounting, including filing all federal and state tax reports.


ARTICLE 4 - EXECUTIVE BOARD


Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers, the chairs of standing committees, and three (3) delegates elected from the membership. Vacancies occurring between annual meetings shall be filled by the Board.


Section 2. The Executive Board shall have the authority to act for and to represent the BDCA in the interim between meetings.


Section 3. A majority of Executive Board members in attendance shall constitute a quorum.


Section 4. The Executive Board members may replace any board member that misses three consecutive BDCA board meetings without notifying the President.


ARTICLE 5 - COMMITTEES


Section 1. Committees necessary to carry out the business of the BDCA may be appointed as deemed necessary by the by-laws of the BDCA.


Section 2. Special Committees. The President shall have the power to appoint special committees when they have been authorized by the BDCA in response to a specific need determined by the Board. The Nominating committee is an example of a special committee.


Section 3. Committee Limitations. No committee shall commit the BDCA to the advocacy or opposition to any subject without prior confirmation of the BDCA, unless such confirmation is clearly granted under the general powers delegated by the bylaws.


Section 4. Standing committees of the BDCA include Neighborhood Watch, the Neighborhood Preservation Task Force, Berwyn Newsletter, Membership, and the Welcoming Committee.


ARTICLE 6 - ELECTIONS


Section 1. The election of BDCA officers shall be held during the annual meeting in June. Any office becoming vacant in the interim by reason of death, resignation, or for any other cause, shall be filled at the next regular meeting in such manner as a majority of the membership present shall determine.


Section 2. All officers shall be elected for a term of one year.


Section 3. A Nominating Committee of three members shall be elected at the regular meeting in April prior to the Annual meeting in June. To form the Nominating Committee, any member in good standing shall have the right to nominate or be nominated from the floor. The Nominating Committee shall nominate one person for each office and place their nominations during the Annual meeting. After the Nominating committee has placed the nominations for officers, additional nominations may be taken from the floor. Any person nominated to an office of the BDCA must be a member in good standing. The nominating committee is adjourned following the Annual meeting.


Section 4. Voting for all elections shall be by hand count; if more than one candidate, it shall be done by ballot. A majority of votes cast shall be required to elect. In the event of a tie, a second ballot shall be cast with the President also casting a vote.


Section 5. All officers elected at the annual meeting, or at any other meeting, shall assume their duties at the conclusion of the meeting at which they are elected. The retiring officers shall continue to perform their duties as officers until the conclusion of the meeting at which their successors are elected.


ARTICLE 7 - MEETINGS


Section 1. The annual meeting of the BDCA in which new officers are elected shall be held in June of each year of at such time as practical thereafter as determined by the Executive Board.


Section 2. Regular meetings of the BDCA shall be held on the third Thursday of each month, except for the months of July and August during which regular meetings shall be suspended. The BDCA shall have the power to select and designate the place of its meetings.


Section 3. The presence of five (5) members in attendance shall be required to constitute a legal quorum at any regular or special meeting of the BDCA.


Section 4. Regular meetings shall start promptly at 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. and adjourn not later than 9:30 or10:00 p.m., except when a motion is adopted to continue for a limited time.


Section 5. Special meetings shall be called by the President whenever, in his/her judgement, it may be necessary. It shall be mandatory for the President to call a special meeting if asked to do so in a written request signed by five members. Business at special meetings shall be confined to the purposes of the meeting as stated in the notice of the meeting.


Section 6. Notices of regular and special meetings shall include of the time and place and must be delivered not less than three (3) days preceding the date of the meeting. In cases of special meetings, the notice shall also state the nature of the business to be considered.


Section 7. Any meeting of the BDCA shall be conducted in accordance with the parliamentary procedure prescribed by the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order or by any other generally accepted procedure agreed upon by the Executive Board and announced to the members.


The following shall be the order of business:

  • Roll-Call of Officers

  • Approval of Minutes from the Prior Meeting

  • New Business

  • Treasurer’s Report

  • Committee Reports

  • President’s Update

  • Unfinished Business

  • Berwyn Updates

  • Adjournment


Section 8. The regular order of business may be suspended at any meeting by a majority vote of the members present.


Section 9. The BDCA may invite a guest(s) to speak at regular and special meetings that promote the purpose of the BDCA as stated Article I section 3 and 4. Those who hold current political offices may speak in regards to updating the members of the BDCA of the current happening as our representatives. Political candidates may not campaign during meetings with the following exception:

  • Local candidates (Mayor, City Council, County Council, county and state offices) may be invited to speak as long as all candidates running for that office are invited to speak.

  • Non-local candidates, of any party or position, may request to speak at a meeting. Approval is at the discretion of the BDCA Board. If approval is granted, an invitation to speak will be extended to all other candidates in the race.


The BDCA encourages all members of our community, including BDCA board members, to be civically engaged–whether as volunteers, activists, voters, or candidates. Strong civic engagement aligns with the mission and purpose of the BDCA. In the spirit of our nonpartisan mission, the BDCA, as an organization, does not endorse or oppose candidates running for public office, nor do we affiliate with any political party. BDCA board members who are engaged in this capacity do so as individuals and not as representatives of the BDCA. No member of the Board shall use his/her Board affiliation in their endorsement of any candidate or legislation.


ARTICLE 8 - AMENDMENTS


Section 1. These bylaws may be amended or altered so long as the suggested policy or procedure is not contrary to law or these bylaws.


Section 2. The suggested change(s) or additions may be offered by resolution or in writing by any member at any regular meeting of the BDCA. The resolution shall then be tabled until the next regular meeting. Notice of the resolution shall be posted on the web site and the community bulletin board. Any member of the BDCA can submit a written request (P. O. Box 535) for a copy of the proposed bylaws no less than seven (7) days prior to the meeting at which the proposed changes or additions are to be considered. A two-thirds vote of the members present shall be required to adopt the resolution.


I, the undersigned, being the Corresponding Secretary of the Berwyn District Civic Association, Inc., hereby certify that the above is a true, complete, and accurate copy of the Bylaws as adopted by the Executive Board.



Timothy Triplett

Corresponding Secretary