HPAC Bylaws

HORNER PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL
BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I. NAME
This organization shall be known has the Horner Park Advisory Council (hereinafter the “Council”).

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

1. The purpose of the Council shall be to provide advice and assistance to the Chicago Park District and/or other agencies on matters relating to the concerns and needs of the Horner Park Community (hereinafter called the “Community”) consisting of all users of Horner Park, Ravenswood Manor Park, Buffalo Park, Sunken Gardens and Jacob Playlot.
2. The Council is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
3. The Council shall meet its purpose by:
   1. providing the Community with a vehicle by which information can be shared with and from the Community;
   2. working with the Chicago Park District to determine and establish programs, policies and practices which will meet these needs;
   3. providing advice and counsel and an evaluation of the programs policies and practices as they relate to community needs.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

1. The Council shall consist of individuals indicating a desire to become members. Membership in the Council shall be unrestricted.
2. Membership will not be excluded because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, unfavorable discharge from military service, parental status, or sexual orientation.

ARTICLE IV. Executive Committee

A. Election and Terms

1. The Executive Committee will consist of the Officers: a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer who shall be elected by the members of the Advisory Council.
2. Each office may be shared by two people. In the event an office is held by two people their titles shall be designated “Co-officer role.”
3. The Executive Committee of the Council shall serve twoyear terms. Members may stand for re-election at the end of their terms.
4. Elections shall be held at the annual meeting on even numbered years. Terms shall take effect immediately.
5. In the event that an office is vacated before the end of a scheduled term, a special election will be held at the next immediate monthly meeting, and as may be necessary at each subsequent monthly meeting until the office is filled, to complete the normally scheduled term.
6. Any member of the Executive Committee absent from three scheduled consecutive meetings shall cease to be a member of the Executive Committee. The remaining members of the Executive Committee shall, by simple majority consensus, appoint a successor to finish the term.

B. Officers Roles

1. The President will preside at all meetings.
2. The Vice President will preside in the President’s absence, and assist the President.
3. The Secretary will be responsible for minutes of meetings, attendance records and any notices required by the By-laws.
4. The Treasurer will be responsible for the financial records of the organization and will give reports at the October and May meetings.
5. The President and Treasurer must be signatories to any bank accounts of the Council. Only those elected as Officers can be signatories to the account.

ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES

1. The Council may vote to create committees that it deems necessary and appropriate.
2. The committees can be composed of any Council members.
3. The committee shall elect its own chair.
4. Committees shall make timely reports to the Council when requested.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

1. Regular meetings of the Council shall be held on a monthly basis, excluding August. The Council meeting will be held once a month at 7:00 p.m. at Horner Park or at another date, site or time with adequate notice to members.
2. An Annual Meeting of the Council will be held in the month of October.
3. Each meeting shall begin at the announced time and continue no longer than two hours. However, a two-thirds majority of Advisory Council members present may vote to continue any meeting for an additional amount of time.
4. The President shall be responsible for setting the agenda for the Council meetings. After all agenda items have been completed, any Council member shall be able to introduce new business to be discussed at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.
5. All meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, except in so far as such rules are inconsistent with these by-laws.

ARTICLE VII. VOTING

1. To be a member in good standing of the Council, a person must attend the two Council meetings immediately preceding the meeting at which the voting is to take place, or fifty percent (50%) of the Council meetings in the twelve-month period immediately preceding the meeting at which the voting is taking place.
2. A member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the Council.
3. An affirmative vote by a simple majority of all Council members in good standing at an Council meeting shall be required to pass any matter which is up for a vote (excepting provision IX.2. below for change of by-laws).
4. There will be no voting by proxy.
5. Chicago Park District staff may not vote on Council matters.

ARTICLE VIII. OTHER PROVISIONS

1. Inurement of Income
   No part of the net earnings of the Council shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers, or other private persons except that the Council shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for essential, professional services rendered.
2. Legislative or Political Awareness
   No substantial part of the activities of the Council shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the Council shall not participate or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
3. Operational Limitations
   Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the Council shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on:
   1. by an organization exempt from Federal Income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or
   2. by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
4. Dissolution Clause
   Upon the dissolution of the Council, the executive committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Council, dispose of all the assets of the Council exclusively for the purposes of the Council in such manner, or to such organization(s) under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the executive committee shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of Cook County, exclusively for such purposes of to such organization, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT OF THE BY-LAWS

1. Any Council member in good standing may submit a proposal to amend the by-laws by filing an original of the said amendment with the Secretary of the Council.
2. By-law amendments may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at a monthly meeting, provided that the proposed language of any by-law amendment is included in the meeting notice.

Adopted on 03/14/11

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