BY-LAWS OF THE
RIVER BEND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Amended October 2004
A Michigan Non-Profit Corporation
Under provisions of Act 327, Public
Acts of 1931 As Amended and Act 284
Public Acts of 1972 As Amended
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization will be the River Bend Neighborhood Association, Inc. whose boundaries include the
South side of Cherry Hill from Outer Drive to the River and River Lane to Ford Field.
ARTICLE II – OBJECT
The object of the River Bend Neighborhood Association, Inc. shall be to promote the Civic, Economic and Social
Welfare of the people of the River Bend Association. The office of this Association shall be located in the City of
Dearborn, County of Wayne and shall be the address of the current President of the Association.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Classes of Membership: This Corporation shall have one class of membership: Active.
Section. 2: Representatives: (a) Any adult 18 or older who lives in the territory described in Article 1 shall be
eligible to pay a membership fee in order to be considered an active member.
(b) All business firms and corporations or individuals owning or renting property in this territory are
eligible to have a representative who will qualify as a full-fledged active member upon the Association’s receipt of written
notice of his appointment as their representative.
Section 3: Application for membership: Any eligible person desiring to become an active member of the Association
shall present his application to the Treasurer, accompanied by the amount of one year’s membership fee.
Section 4: Voting Rights: Each active member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the
members.
Section 5: Annual Membership Fee: The annual membership fee necessary to become an active member of this
Association shall be $10.00 (ten dollars) per year, per household, or such other sum as shall be voted by a majority of
the membership at any annual meeting or at any general meeting if at least ten days notice is given of the intention to
change the annual membership fee.
Section 6: Payment of Membership Fee: The membership fee shall be payable in December each year.
Section 7: Default and Termination of Membership: If payment of the membership fee is in default beyond February
1, that membership shall expire.
ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS
Section 1: Annual Meeting: The annual meeting shall be held in the second week in October. At this time the Annual
Report of the Officers shall be submitted, the Board of Directors shall present the Association’s Annual Report and
Financial Status and Officers and Directors for the new term shall be elected and installed for the ensuing year.
Section 2: General and Special Meetings: General meetings of the Association may be held in the second week in
April. Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors on their own motion or after any member presents a
request for a special meeting to the President and that request is approved by a majority of the Board of Directors. At
least six days notice must be given to the membership prior to a special meeting.
Section 3: Quorum: 15(fifteen) active members in good standing shall constitute a quorum of any regular or special
meeting of the Association.
Section 4: Notice: Notice of such general or special meetings shall be mailed or delivered to all members at least six
days prior to the date of such meeting unless the Board of Directors votes to waive the six day notice to a minimum of
three days to the membership at large. The Board of Directors, at their option, may also provide notice of meetings to
residents or places of business who are not active members of the Association.
Section 5: Decorum: No one shall speak until having been recognized by the person conducting the meeting. All
persons addressing the membership at large will stand so that they may be heard by all and will identify themselves.
ARTICLE V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1: Duties: The affairs of this Association shall be managed by its Board of Directors, whose duty it is to
transact all normal business of the Association. No member or officer, except the President or Vice President acting in
his/her stead, shall request any action on behalf of, or speak for the Association, without majority approval by the
Board of Directors or the membership at large.
Section 2: Membership: The Board of Directors shall consist of four officers and six Regional Representatives, (1
from each region) each having one vote. Regional Representatives shall serve as long as they remain active members of
the Association, are willing to serve and continue to be elected by the membership at large.
Section 3: Officers: Officers of this Association shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer and shall be elected by the membership at large by majority vote at the October meeting. Officers of this
Association will serve as long as they remain active members of the Association, are willing to serve and continue to be
elected by the membership at large.
Section 4: Termination of a Director: Any Director failing to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board of
Directors or of the membership at large, in any combination, may be dropped from the Board by majority vote of the
Directors present at any stated meeting, and having been so dropped from the Board, such Director shall immediately
cease to be a Director.
Section 5: Regular Meetings: Regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held in the second week in
September and March, at a place agreed upon by the Board.
Section 6: Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time at the request of
the President or any two directors.
Section 7: Notice: Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given at least two days previous
thereto, and may be written or oral; provided, however, that the attendance by any Director at any such meeting shall be a
waiver of the notice requirement.
Section 8: Quorum: Five members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum of a Board meeting, provided,
one person present is an officer.
Section 9: Vacancy: The President may fill any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors subject to the approval
of the majority of the Board. The person so appointed shall hold office until the next election.
ARTICLE VI – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: President: The President shall be the presiding officer at all regular and special meetings of the
Association and Board of Directors. He/she may sign, with the Secretary or any other proper officer of the
Corporation, duly authorized, any deeds, papers, contracts, and/or reports required by law or authorized by the Board
of Directors, and generally, shall perform all duties incident to the office of President, and any such other duties as may
be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. He/she shall be Ex-Officio member of all committees, and
act as liaison officer between the Committees and the Board of Directors.
Section 2: Vice President: In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside and discharge the duties
of the President. He/she shall perform any other duties as from time to time may be assigned him/her by the President
or Board of Directors.
Section 3: Treasurer: The Treasurer shall duly and faithfully keep account of any and all monies of the Corporation,
shall disburse said funds in accordance with the directions from the Board of Directors. He/she shall keep the active
membership role. The funds of said Corporation shall be deposited in a banking institution approved by the Board of
Directors, and to be withdrawn by check co-signed by said Treasurer and President, or with any other officers
designated by the Board of Directors. He/she shall perform any other duties as from time to time may be assigned
him/her by the President or Board of Directors.
Section 4: Secretary: The Secretary shall keep the Minutes of the meetings of the members of the Association and
of the Board of Directors, shall send all notices required by these By-Laws, and be custodian of the corporate
records and Seal; and generally shall perform such duties incident to the office of Secretary, and any other duties as
from time to time may be assigned him/her by the President or Board of Directors.
Section 5: Regional Representation: It shall be the duty of each regional representative to take care of problems of a
local nature in his/her region, including the delivery of notices and the collection of dues in his/her region.
ARTICLE VII – POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Section 1: Non-Partisan: This Association shall be non-partisan. No member shall in any way commit the
Association to support any candidate or political party for elective office. No campaigning or distribution of political
literature shall be conducted at any meeting of the membership at large, except as authorized by 2/3 vote of the
membership.
Section 2: Conflicts of Interest: To avoid possible conflicts of interest, no person holding an elected or appointed
position with remuneration in the City of Dearborn shall be a member of the Board of Directors during his/her public
term of office.
Section 3: Running for Office: Any member of the Board of Directors who files candidacy for any city, county, state
or federal office shall resign from the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES
Section 1: Special Committees: The President shall appoint such special committees as are required by projects
undertaken by the Association.
Section 2: Standing Committees: (a) Election Committee: The President shall appoint a nominating committee
at the April meeting preceding the October election. This committee shall nominate directors for election at the
October meeting. Other nominations for directors may be made from the floor at the October meeting. It shall also be
the duty of this committee to conduct the election and determine the winners.
(b) Neighborhood Recognition Committee: The President shall appoint a committee to recognize
the significant neighborhood events: 1. new neighbors: welcoming card and small token of welcome; 2. birth of child:
appropriated card; 3. death of member: $50.00 donation/flowers; 4. death of members’ parent or child - $25.00
donation/flowers.
ARTICLE IX – BOOKS AND RECORDS
The Association shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and minutes of meetings of the
membership at large and the Board of Directors, and shall keep a record giving the names and addresses of the
members entitled to vote. All books and records of the Association may be inspected by any member, or his/her agent
or attorney, for any purpose at any reasonable time.
ARTICLE X – FISCAL YEAR
The Fiscal Year of the Association shall begin on the first day of October and end the last day of September of the
following year.
ARTICLE XI – FINANCES
This Association is not intended as a profit making organization, nor is it founded with the expectation of making a
profit. This Association shall use its funds only for objectives and purposes specified in these By-laws. No part of
any net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any private party.
ARTICLE XII – PROPERTY DISPOSITION
Ownership of all property belonging to the Association shall be vested in the active membership, and in case of
dissolution, after the payment of all debts and charges against said Association shall be donated to such civic and/or
charitable organizations as the membership shall direct, provided, however, that the recipient or recipients must qualify as
exempt institutions under the Federal Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
These by-laws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new by-laws may be adopted by a majority vote of the members
at any regular or special meeting, if at least ten days written notice is given of intention to alter, amend, or repeal or to
adopt new by-laws at such meeting.
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