Neighbors

Blackhawk

Blackhawk Residents Association

Below are the Current Bylaws approved in 2007

Please review the bylaws and let us know if you have any
questions. Please feel free to print and share these with
the others in the Blackhawk Neighborhood.

The annual budget is approved at the January General
meeting every year. Dues of $20 are also due every
January. The approved budget is available to all dues
paying members upon request.

Copyright 2006-2010 by Blackhawk Residents Association

This website is for information purposes only and information can
change without notice at any time.

Blackhawk Residents Association Bylaws
(An Illinois Not-For-Profit corporation)

Article 1 - Name
The name of this Association shall be Blackhawk Residents Association.
Article 2 - Purpose
The purposes of this Association shall be to represent the residents of the Blackhawk neighborhood
and to serve as a forum for communication within the community.
Article 3 - Goals
1.        To promote community involvement and participation in issues and activities affecting the
neighborhood.
2.        To establish and maintain communications between the neighborhood and the City of Elgin
and other agencies or entities as needed.
3.        To work cooperatively for solutions to neighborhood challenges.
4.        To recruit volunteers and sponsors to aid in the enhancement of the neighborhood and the
community at large.
5.        To provide a vehicle for the generation of revenues through fundraising activities for the
purpose of supporting the enhancement of the quality of life in the Blackhawk Association area.
6.        Article 4 - Membership and Meetings
1.        Eligibility: Membership is open to any resident household or non-resident owner in the
Blackhawk neighborhood, or any business, that subscribes to the goals and aims of the
Association. Any resident or family member over 18 years of age is eligible to vote on behalf of the
household. The boundaries of the Blackhawk Residents Association are: The Northern side of
Congdon Ave. on the South, The Eastern side of Route 25/Dundee Avenue on the West, The Northern
side of Huron on the North and The Eastern side Blackhawk Drive on the East, including those
homes on the corners that were original to the Blackhawk Subdivision.
2.        Only members whose membership payment is current and was paid 30 days in advance of
the vote will be accorded voting privileges. This requirement will not pertain to the initial votes
establishing the association, the first vote on dues, or the first election of directors.
3.        Voting: Each paid Association Member shall have the right to cast one vote.
4.        Dues: Dues will be proposed by the Board of Directors and will be adopted by a majority vote of
the members attending the annual meeting. Dues will be payable by Jan.1 of each year. Dues will
be effective until Jan. 1 of each successive year thereafter.
5.        Association Meetings: The Association shall meet a minimum of once a quarter. The Board
will determine the calendar. The month of September shall be designated for holding the Annual
Meeting. Notice of meetings shall be given at least seven (7) days in advance.
6.        Special Meetings: Special Meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or the President.
Seven (7) days' notice shall be given for such meetings.
7.        Voting Method: Voting may be done through a show of hands or by voice for regular agenda
items. However when voting for officers or other action items, members may use a written ballot.
Voting may also be conducted by mail in any manner that the Board of Directors shall determine.
Voting for the Board of Directors shall be in the manner proscribed in Article 5 Section 3.
8.        Quorum of Members: Quorum is achieved when 1/10th of members of the Association, in good
standing 30 days in advance of the vote, are present at the meeting. If a quorum is present, then a
simple majority of votes cast decides the outcome of matters requiring members’ votes.
9.        Minutes: Minutes must be kept for each meeting of the Association. Copies of the previous
minutes are to be available on the Blackhawk Neighborhood Association website, if a website exists,
or by written request made to the Secretary, with a limited number of copies at the following meeting.
10.        Meetings shall be conducted according to the Robert’s Rules and Parliamentary Procedure,
as amended.
11.        Membership List: Blackhawk Residents Association will maintain a list of members meeting
the requirements as identified in the membership section. Additionally Blackhawk Residents
Association may maintain a list of all residents in the defined area described in the Membership
Section. (4.1)
12.        Membership Conduct: Members will conduct themselves in legal, civil and ethical manners
at all times. These Bylaws will be followed, commitments should be honored, members should be
mutually respected, issues should be discussed civilly, difference should be settled cordially, and
majority vote decisions should be accepted.
13.        Notification: Notices of official meetings will be provided to members in advance. Acceptable
announcements include written notices distributed by mail, or by hand, telephone calls (including
voice-mail messages), and email. The announced scheduling of routinely held meetings will be
considered notice of such meetings, and reminders of these meetings may be sent. Because the
purpose of notice is to encourage participation in the meetings, due effort will be made to reasonably
ensure receipt of required and reminder notices.

Article 5 - Board of Directors
1.        Composition: The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of three and a maximum of
eleven members of the Association. The Association shall have the following officers, whom shall
also be directors: President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Association may have additional officers,
whom shall also be directors, including, but not limited to, a First Vice-President, Second Vice-
President, Assistant Secretary and a Parliamentarian/Sergeant-at Arms.
a.        The President shall coordinate all Association activities, preside at meetings of the
Association and the Board, and shall have the general powers of supervision and management of
the Association and such duties as may be designated by the Board. Only current Board members
are eligible to be President, with the exception of the first to hold the office. With the exception of the
Nominating Committee, the President shall be an ex-officio member of all other committees and
shall be notified of all meetings.
b.        The First Vice President, if any, shall assume the duties of the President in that officer's
absence. Other duties shall be performed as required by the President or the Board.
c.        The Second Vice-President, if any, shall perform duties as required by the President or the
Board.
d.        The Secretary shall keep minutes of the Association meetings and Board meetings and shall
be responsible for notification of all official meetings of the Board and the Association. In addition,
Secretary shall manage the Association's correspondence at the direction of the President and shall
maintain the Association archive files.
e.        The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Association funds and shall supervise the
handling of funds for any enterprises of the Association. The Treasurer shall assure the keeping of
proper financial records, report regularly in writing to the members and the Board, and pay budgeted
requests as directed by the Board. All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer and one of the
following: President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President.
f.        The Parliamentarian/Sergeant-at-Arms, if any, shall advise and provide rulings for the conduct
of meetings, shall determine the presence of a quorum, and shall conduct any voting by ballot. In the
absence of the Parliamentarian/Sergeant-at-Arms, the President, or any Director so designated by
the President, may perform the duties of the Parliamentarian/Sergeant-at-Arms.
g.        All officers upon completion of their term in office, are encouraged to leave any written
instructions and or notes that they have compiled during their tenure in office, to their respective
successor to insure a smooth transition of duties.
2.        Term of Office: The term of office shall be for one (1) year, beginning at the first Board meeting
following the Annual Meeting. No director may hold the same position for more than two (2)
consecutive terms.
3.        Election of the Board of Directors:
a.        The election of Directors will be held at the Annual Meeting.
b.        The Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee in May with a minimum of three (3)
members, to be chaired by a current member of the Board. The Nominating Committee shall present
a slate of candidates for officers and board members to be elected with at least one candidate for
each office of President, Secretary and Treasurer. Candidates must be Association members in
good standing at least 30 days in advance of the vote. The slate is to be presented to the
membership no later than the May meeting.
c.        Nominations from the floor will be solicited before the vote.
d.        The candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast for that position will be elected.
e.        The Board of Directors shall serve for one year or until their successors are duly elected at the
next Annual Meeting.
4.        Vacancies:
a.        Vacancies in all offices except the Presidency shall be filled for the remaining period until the
next annual election. The Board may fill the position by a majority vote of the remaining Board
members as soon as the vacancy occurs. A vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by a
majority vote of the members of the Association at a special meeting, duly called by any remaining
officers, for the purpose of electing a new president.
b.        The First Vice-President, if any, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the President until a new
president is elected. The Board shall then appoint a First Vice-President, if necessary.
c.        An officer who has two (2) consecutive absences from Board meetings without reason shall be
deemed to have resigned from the position.
5.        Powers and Duties: The Board of Directors shall:
a.        Be responsible for conduct and management of the Association.
b.        Serve as an Executive Committee.
c.        Supervise preparation and maintenance of the procedures and guidelines for the Association
and its activities.
d.        Appoint standing and ad hoc committees as needed.
e.        Prepare a budget for adoption at the annual meeting for the fiscal year starting January 1.
f.        Approve all expenditures in the normal course of business in the normal course of business
under $200. Expenses over $200 need to be approved by the General Membership.
g.        Manage other items as appropriate to meet the goals of the Association.
6.        Meetings:
a.        The Board shall meet at least four times per year at times designated by the Board. The
President may call special meetings at any time and shall call a special meeting upon telephone
request of three (3) members. In either case, three (3) days' notice shall be given.
b.        Board or Special meetings may be closed to consider litigation and matters involving a Board
member. The purpose of any closed session shall be announced. A report of action taken in closed
session shall be included in the minutes and reported at the next open meeting. Strategic planning
may be discussed in closed session; action shall be taken in open session.
7.        Quorum of Directors: The quorum for Board meetings shall be a simple majority of Board
members.
8.        Minutes: Minutes must be kept for each meeting of the Board. Board minutes shall be available
on the Blackhawk Neighborhood Association website, if any exists, General Meeting or Board
Meeting Minutes may be requested from the Secretary in writing.
9.         Conflict of Interest: Each member of the Board of Directors is to avoid conflict of interest or the
appearance thereof between their political, personal, professional, and financial interests and the
stated purpose of the Association.
Article 6 - Amendments
1.        These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members attending either a regular or
special meeting of the Association.
2.        Proposed changes to the Bylaws must be delivered in writing to all member households and
member non-resident owners at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting at which they will be
considered. A qualified member household or member non-resident owner and business owner is
one whose dues are current and were paid at least 30 days in advance of the vote.
Article 7 - Dissolution of Assets
The property of this association is irrevocably dedicated to community education, preservation,
maintenance, and enhancement. No part of the Association income shall ever inure to the benefit of
any individual officer or member. Upon dissolution of the Association, any assets remaining after
payment of debts and liabilities shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, a foundation, community
group, or a corporation organized exclusively for the same purposes and goals as those established
by these bylaws. Assets may also be gifted to the City of Elgin for Blackhawk neighborhood
improvement should the organization be dissolved.
Article 8 – Implementation
1. These bylaws are implemented by a simple majority vote of the members of the Blackhawk
residents Association as described in the Membership Section. “Membership Definition” on
November 27, 2007 and will apply until amended, revised or rescinded.
Article 9- Audit (Approved at General Meeting May 27, 2008)
1. The financial records of this organization shall be audited by a minimum of 2 members of this
organization other than the present treasurer before they are submitted to the newly elected
treasurer. The auditors will report in writing to the membership that this has been completed.