Croissant Park Civic Association Bylaws
ARTICLE I: NAME, BOUNDARIES, AND PURPOSE
SECTION I
The name of this corporation shall be Croissant Park Civic Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the “Association.”
SECTION II
The boundaries of the Association shall be the east side of SW 9th Avenue to the west; the south side of Davie Boulevard to the north; FEC railroad tracks to the east; and the north side
of SR 84 to the south.
SECTION III
The mission of the Croissant Park Civic Association is to promote and facilitate community awareness through communication with our neighbors and local government to enhance the quality of life while protecting our property values.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS
SECTION I
The full and ultimate responsibility and authority for the direction of this Association shall be vested in the general membership. Every voting member in good standing, who has attained the legal voting age, shall be entitled to vote and participate.
SECTION II
A member in good standing shall be defined as any resident and/or property owner of the association who are, and/or the designated representative of a business membership who has paid their dues as set forth in these bylaws.
Non-discrimination Law
The Croissant Park Civic Association does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.
SECTION III
The agenda for all general and Board Meetings is suggested to be as follows:
1. Call to Order. Call the roll of the officers. Determination of a quorum.
2. Introduction of program and/or speaker.
3. Reading of the minutes of the preceding Board and general meetings Approval of minutes.
4. Reports of officers.
5. Reports of committees.
6. Old business. Nomination and election of officers shall be conducted under this heading.
7. New business.
8. Adjournment.
SECTION IV
The annual fee of $20.00 per household and the annual business membership fee of $50.00 per business are due upon joining and cover the remainder of the calendar year. Dues shall not be prorated for any time frame. Dues shall be due and payable the first of each calendar year.
SECTION V
Any member who acts in a way that is detrimental to the goals and objectives of the Association are liable to expulsion by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at a general meeting. Said member shall be given written notice at least thirty days prior to such vote and an opportunity to address the general membership before such vote is taken.
SECTION VI
General meetings shall take place on the last Tuesday of each month at Croissant Park Elementary School of designated months. Notice of any change shall be published in the newsletter to be distributed prior to the meeting. Time and location will be announced on Nextdoor.com.
SECTION VII
The Board, at their first meeting in January each year, shall determine dates and times for regular meetings of the Board of Directors. City Commission or other governmental body meetings may necessitate changes in this date. At the December Board meeting, the outgoing Board shall meet with the Board Elect to effect an orderly transfer of Association affairs.
SECTION VIII
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by the request of three members of the Board.
SECTION IX
In order to conduct business at any general meeting, a quorum shall be present. A quorum shall be defined as twelve members in good standing, a majority of the sitting board members plus such other general members.
A quorum of the Board of Directors meetings shall be 5 a majority of the board members.
A quorum can be established by electronic means.
ARTICLE III: OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
SECTION I
The officers of the Association shall include a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and up to five Directors-at-large. These ten four(4) elected officers and five (5) Directors at Large shall constitute the Board.
A quorum, of five members a majority of the Board, shall be required to conduct any business. Only members in good standing are eligible to run and be elected to any office. Any officer who moves out of Association boundaries will be required to resign their office.
SECTION II
President: The duties of the President shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. To preside over all general meetings, special meetings, and Board meetings.
2. Prepare an agenda for the general meeting.
3. Secure a venue for the general meeting.
4. Make arrangement for guest speakers relevant to the community.
5. Coordinate for meeting: refreshments, sound system and the 50/50 raffle.
6. New board member development.
7. Conduct meeting with proper decorum.
8. Attend all committee board meetings.
9. Communicate with board members between meetings.
10. Represent the Association at public functions.
11. Establish special committees and make appointments to said committees from the general membership when deemed necessary to support the objectives of the Association.
SECTION III
Vice-President: The duties of the Vice-President shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. To assist the President as may be required.
2. To preside over any meeting in the absence of the President.
3. Check Treasurer and Secretary reports.
4. Demonstrate willingness to share responsibility with the President.
SECTION IV
Secretary: The duties of the Secretary shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. To keep the minutes of the general and Board meetings.
2. To keep tape recordings and bring to meetings, general and Board.
3. 2. To bring the sign-in sheet to the general meetings.
4. 3. To be the custodian of current Association records.
5. 4. To present any and all correspondence addressed to the Association to the Board for appropriate consideration.
6. 5. To collect and sort mail from the mailbox.
7. 6. To prepare and mail any and all correspondence authorized by the Board or the general membership.
SECTION V
Treasurer: The duties of the Treasurer shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. To have custody, care, and responsibility for moneys, securities and funds of the Association.
2. To deposit such funds in the name of the Association in such bank, trust company, safe deposit box, or financial institution, as the Board shall designate.
3. To make appropriate bank deposit at least once a month.
4. To be familiar with computer software program for bookkeeping.
5. To be able to reconcile a bank statement and have it prepared for monthly general and
Board meetings.
6. To prepare negotiable drafts for payment under the direction of the Board.
7. To exhibit the books to any member in good standing of the Association, such requests being made during reasonable hours.
8. To render a report of all activity along with beginning and ending balances to be submitted and made available at all general meetings and Board meetings.
- Copy and distribute Make available bank statement to each Board member on a monthly basis upon request by a member of the Association.
SECTION VI
Directors-at-large: The duties of the directors-at-large shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. To assist the officers in carrying out the objectives and goals of the Association.
2. To chair committees set up by the President or Board.
SECTION VII
The Board of Directors has the duty and authority to act on behalf of the general membership between general meetings, without abridging the responsibility and authority set forth in Article II, Section I.
SECTION VIII
Any officer or director, who fails to attend three consecutive meetings without justifiable cause, shall be asked to resign their office can be voted off the board by a majority vote.
SECTION IX
Should any vacancy occur on the Board for any reason, said Board shall appoint a replacement for the balance of the term of office. The appointment shall be voted on and approved by a majority of the membership present and voting at the next general meeting.
SECTION X
Any and all members must receive a consensus of affirmation from the Board and be so designated as an official representative of the Association, prior to saying or holding themselves out as an official representative of the Association.
ARTICLE IV
SECTION I
An announcement must be published in the September newsletter and made at the made at the September general meeting that:
● A nominating committee will be formed at the September meeting, consisting of two voluntary members of the current Board and two members of the general membership. In the absence of sufficient volunteers, a lottery will be held.
● All parties must be present to accept.
● This committee will present its slate of candidates at the October general meeting.
● Additional nominations will be taken from the floor at the October general meeting.
● The slate will be voted/approved by simple majority.
SECTION II
Elections shall be held at the November general meeting and shall be by secret ballot prepared and distributed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall count the ballots and report
the results.
● Verification of these results shall be the privilege of any member voting.
● Election shall be by simple majority.
● In the event of a tie-vote, a run-off election shall be held immediately between those who tied.
ARTICLE V: ASSOCIATION BYLAWS
SECTION I
The President shall appoint a Chairperson of the Bylaws committee who, in turn, will appoint a committee of three members who shall review these bylaws. They shall report to the Board for approval before submitting their recommendations to the general membership.
SECTION II
The bylaws may also be amended or revised as follows:
1. Proposed changes shall be submitted in writing to the Bylaws committee, and must bear the signed approval of a minimum of ten members.
2. Notice of the proposed changes must be published in the newsletter and made available to each member prior to the general meeting when it is to be voted on.
3. The amendment or revision must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members voting at the general meeting.
ARTICLE VI: EXPENDITURES
SECTION I
Any officer of the Association may spend up to $100 on any project, function, purchase or transaction without the approval of the Board, provided the expenditure is within the purview of his/her office.
SECTION II
Expenditures between $100 and $200 must be approved by the Board prior to incurring the obligation.
SECTION III
Expenditures in excess of $200 shall be presented to the general membership for approval prior to incurring the obligation. At the time of approval the membership shall decide if the obligation shall go out to bid.
SECTION IV
The individual responsible for any function must submit to the Treasurer, at the Board meeting immediately following such function, an accounting of expenses and income as to overage or loss. The Treasurer shall make a complete and final report at the next regular Board meeting.
ARTICLE VII
Adoption of these Bylaws shall render null and void, any and all previous Association Bylaws and any rules or regulations in conflict herewith.
Approved and Adopted: ____________________________
SECRETARY
Date___________________________
Happy Summer! Our June meeting began at 7:10pm with the Pledge of Allegiance and was attended by Board members Pat Rathburn, Michelle DiMaria, Rhonda Kramer, Joe Russell, Beth Falkenhagen, Manny Carrera and Virginia Russell.
June 1st was the first day of hurricane season so to mark the event we invited the Emergency Management Coordinator Freddie Zelaya to give us a refresher course on hurricane preparedness. Freddie’s excellent Power Point presentation was a great reminder of the hazards we face in this season and how to prepare for them. For us here in South Florida we will experience the highest occurrence of storms from late August through fall. It is recommended that every household prepare an emergency kit that includes 5-7 days of emergency water (1 gallon per day/ per person) and food for each person and pet. In addition to water and food, medications and many other items should be included in your kit. FEMA’s website www.ready.gov has a complete emergency supply list. If you plan to evacuate to a shelter it is best to register at that shelter in advance to ensure space. If you have pets, there are designated shelters you can use. Again, advance registration is advised. Now is a good time to trim bushes, trees and loose items that might become dangerous flying objects in a storm. Early preparation is the key to keeping you and your loved ones protected. In the event of a hurricane or significant weather event, Ft. Lauderdale City Information Line number is (954) 828-8888, for emergency info and updates of City operations.
We were pleased to honor Suzy Ludlow, the owner of Expresso, our local coffee drive-thru on Andrews Avenue with an award certificate and gift. Suzy generously supplies coffee for every one of our Croissant Park meetings. You might have also had the opportunity to take advantage of Suzy’s water aerobics class at our Community Pool and of her exercise class in the Community Center. Thanks again, Suzy.
FLPD was unable to attend our meeting due to an ongoing incident. However, Pat read the April/May statistics furnished to her by Ofc. Stevens: in April we had 2 residential burglaries, 1 business burglary, 2 vehicle robberies and 2 vehicle thefts. In May there were 3 residential burglaries, 1 vehicle robbery, and 2 vehicle thefts. So far for the month of June we have had only 1 incident, a huge improvement compared to the two previous months. No further information is available about the murder that occurred on 4th Avenue near 13th Street. Neighbors have reported seeing ongoing transactions, possibly drug sales, at the FEC train tracks in Croissant Park.
Michelle informed us of the $46,000 grant we received, which will be spent on pet waste signs and oak trees. The pet waste signs must be placed on private property and the homeowner must sign an agreement. Some people are opting to place the sign on their property in the alley, but homeowners may also place them in their front yards. The oak trees are available to homeowners willing to sign an agreement to thoroughly water the tree and care for it properly. Contact any Board member if you are interested in placing a sign or planting a tree.
