Monterey Park Neighborhood Watch

Bylaws of the Monterey Park Neighborhood Watch Leadership Board Article I Name The name of this association is Monterey Park Neighborhood Watch, hereinafter called MPNW and it is designated as an unincorporated not-for-profit association created under the laws of the State of California. Article II Objectives To improve the quality of life of Monterey Park and Claremont Manor residents by increasing safety through education, communication, community building, and reducing the toll crime takes from everyone. The organization shall engage in an effort aimed at prohibiting the degradation of this residential neighborhood, as well as attempt to create and maintain a safe and pleasant place to live. The organization shall take no political position, offer support for or oppose any measure or candidate for office, any office holder or any political party. Nor shall the organization take any action which may have the appearance of supporting or opposing any measure, candidate or office holder. Article III Membership/Dues MPNW is a collaboration of individuals residing and businesses operating in The Monterey Park/ Claremont Manor neighborhood of Salinas, California dedicated to maintaining this area as safe and pleasant, including the streets, walkways, parks, and open areas. All residents and businesses of this neighborhood are considered members of MPNW. The areas of the neighborhood include the residential and commercial properties within the Salinas city limits bound by S. Main Street, Romie Lane, Blanco Road and the Garden of Memories Memorial Park, and are divided into nine (9) distinctive areas. MPNW is a voluntary organization, and there are no membership fees or annual dues required for membership. Donations and fundraising activities support the organization.

No MPNW member shall be granted any policing or other authority by MPNW and shall act as eyes and ears only, reporting suspicious behavior to law enforcement authorities. MPNW does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religious affiliation, handicap, national origin, or other factors. Article IV Leadership Board Section 1. The Leadership, management, decision making, and affairs of Monterey Park Neighborhood Watch shall be managed by a Leadership Board (Board), with a minimum of six (6) voting members serving in various capacities. The Board may establish up to six (6) additional Board voting positions as necessary for the successful operation and function of MPNW. The Board shall be composed of Area Coordinators, Interest Coordinators and other residents and business owners within the MPNW area. All Board members must live in, operate a business in, or own property within the boundaries of the MPNW area. Section 2. Responsibilities It shall be the responsibility and obligation of the Board to carry out the following:

Meet at least quarterly. Set aims, goals, guidelines, and other policies for MPNW. Guide the affairs of MPNW. Hold the ultimate decision-making responsibility to resolve issues relating to the functioning of the organization (membership qualifications, formation and oversight of committees, policies and procedures, activities, etc.). Review and initiate revisions of current MPNW policies and procedures. Work as required with appropriate committees to achieve the goals of MPNW. Represent the MPNW organization/association to the community. Approve payment of the obligations of MPNW.

Section 3. Election of Leadership Board Elections of the Leadership Board shall be by a vote of the General Membership at the Annual Neighborhood Meeting in April of each year. The Board shall, in December of each year, establish an Election Committee consisting of two Board members and one other person from the General Membership. The purpose of the election committee shall be to facilitate the Board election process outlined herein. Commencing the second week of January and through the first week of February of each year, the Election Committee shall solicit, from the general membership via all available means which may include general media press release, the MPNW newsletter, MPNW websites and facebook, email, etc., candidates for the following Board positions:

Chair Vice Chair (elect) Secretary Treasurer Communications Coordinator Safety & Security Coordinator Other positions (as outlined in Article IV, Section 4)

Candidacy shall require residency or business ownership/establishment within the MPNW area described herein, and completion of information contained in a MPNW Board Candidate Form. All candidates shall be at least 18 years of age by April 1st of the year they are elected. Said form shall include residence and/or business location, birthday, address, telephone number, email address if available, and a brief statement of interest; up to 50 words.

MPNW Board Candidate Forms shall be submitted by mail to the MPNW mailing address, personally, or electronically via email to any member of the Leadership Board or the Elections Committee on or before the end of the first full week of February. The Elections Committee shall compile the list of candidates from the MPNW Board Candidate Forms received by the end of the second week of February and verify residency or business ownership within the MPNW. The Elections Committee shall, at least 5 days prior to the February Board meeting, present the list to the Board.

The MPNW Board shall, prior to the end of the first week of March, publish the list of candidates to the general members of MPNW via all available means. If no candidate forms are received by the deadline, the current board shall prepare a slate of officers to be presented at the Annual Neighborhood Meeting. At the Annual Neighborhood Meeting, the list of candidates shall be presented to the general membership. The MPNW Leadership Board may be elected by a voice vote of those present if the number of nominees does not exceed the number of vacancies. Members shall vote by ballot if there is more than one nominee for any office, or if the Board determines that ballot voting is appropriate. Each member may cast one vote for each open position. Only adult members of MPNW as designated above may vote or serve on the Board. No person shall place any other before the Board or the general membership for consideration. Upon formation of the organization on January 21, 2012, decision making authority shall be vested in current leadership board members consisting of Area Coordinators and Interest Coordinators until such time as an election can reasonably be held. Section 4. The Leadership Board Officers shall include:

Chair Vice Chair (elect) Secretary Treasurer Communications Coordinator Safety & Security Coordinator

Additional positions may be added or deleted by a majority vote of the Leadership Board at any time during the year, up to a total of twelve (12) voting positions. Positions may be filled by recommendation by any board member with the approval of a majority of the Board in the first year they are created and by vote at the Annual Neighborhood meeting in following years. Positions may include, but are not limited to, Events Coordinator, Beautification Coordinator, and City Wide Community Outreach. Job descriptions shall exist for all Board roles. All positions shall be voting members. Section 5. Terms of Service New officers will assume responsibilities on June 1. Each member shall be elected to serve for one (1) year by the membership of MPNW and may be re-elected for additional one year terms. There is no limit to the number of terms any member shall serve.

Chair the Chair shall serve for one year term Vice Chair (elect) elect the Vice Chair (elect) shall serve, if willing, the following year as the Chair Secretary the secretary shall serve for one year term Treasurer the treasurer shall serve for one year term

If the Chair resigns, the Vice Chair (elect) shall assume the Chair position and the Leadership Board shall elect a new Vice Chair (elect). Vacancies, other than Chair, occurring on the Leadership Board shall be filled by the Chair with the approval of a majority of the Leadership Board. Any Board member so appointed, if accepted, shall serve for the remainder of the term. Section 6. Work Product

Work product created for MPNW, including but not limited to, graphic art, forms, media lists, photographs, legal opinions, financial records, written documents, and membership lists belong to MPNW and are not considered to be proprietary of the Board member or any MPNW member. Article V. Leadership Officers Section 1. Responsibilities of the Chair

Chair all meetings of the Leadership Board. Prepare the agenda for the monthly Board meetings. Appoint or make recommendations of members to chair committees, as needed. Compile information for the Annual Report to be presented at the Annual Neighborhood Wide Meeting each year. Facilitate the Annual Neighborhood Wide Meeting and other neighborhood-wide meetings, or arrange for such facilitation.

Section 2. Responsibilities of the Vice Chair (elect)

Assist the Chair as required/ requested. Preside at Board meetings in the absence of the Chair or as requested. Work to ensure each Area of MPNW has one or more Area Coordinators.

Section 3. Responsibilities of the Secretary

Keep and transcribe for inclusion in the minutes book the minutes of meetings of the Board. Retain a copy of all minutes for historical purposes. Handle correspondence as directed by the Chair and/or the Leadership Board. Maintain a copy of current bylaws, and procedures and policies.

Section 4. Responsibilities of the Treasurer

Manage the organizations financial records to include monthly reconciliation with bank statements. Provide a monthly financial statement, to include the current checking account balance, at every meeting of the Leadership Board. Pay organizational obligations as approved by the Leadership Board. Chair Finance Committee. Prepare annual budget.

Section 5. Responsibilities of the Communications Coordinator Develop and maintain copies of both print and electronic media for sharing information of mutual importance between the Neighborhood, its members and relevant public and private entities. This may include: o o o o MPNW Website MPNW Facebook Site MPNW Printed and electronic newsletters MPNW Flyers

Maintain and safeguard a current list of all members who request to be notified by email of MPNW news and security alerts. Release security alerts and MPNW email news notices as per guidelines agreed to by the Leadership Board and outlined in the policy manual.

Section 6. Responsibilities of the Safety & Security Coordinator Oversee activities related to safety & Security seminars, trainings & handouts Provide representation by self or committee member in the City of Salinas activities that are consistent with the goals and objectives of MPNW and approved by the MPNW Leadership Board. Maintain supply of and provide for sale MPNW yard signs and window decals. Maintain property of MPNW including MPNW street signs.

Each officer shall maintain appropriate records and written operating procedures to be passed on to successors within one month of the successors appointment. A copy of all procedures shall be provided to the Secretary to maintain for historical purposes. Article VI Leadership Board Operations 6

Section 1. Quorum A quorum shall be a majority of the Leadership including temporarily vacant positions. Each member of the Board shall have one vote on issues. Section 2. Absences Board members are required to attend all Board and general meetings unless excused by the Chair. Two consecutive unexcused absences of any member shall constitute a cause for review by the Leadership Board. A member may be dismissed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board for excessive absences, dereliction of responsibilities, or behavior which does not promote the interests of the organization. Board Members of MPNW shall not vote on any disciplinary issue in which they may be personally involved. Section 3. Electronic Meetings MPNW Leadership Board and/or any committee is authorized to meet and conduct votes by telephone conference (teleconference) or through other electronic communications media (e.g. email, videoconference) so long as all the participating members can hear and/or see each other and can interact together within the media selected. Any two members of the Leadership Board may request an electronic meeting of the Board. If any Board Member objects in writing, including via email, text message or other written communication, there shall be no electronic meeting and the issue shall be brought up at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. When vote is taken by email, the record of the decision shall be included on the agenda of the next Board meeting. Article VII Meetings Section 1. MPNW Leadership Board meetings shall be open to attendance by any member of MPNW. MPNW shall hold at least one Neighborhood Wide meeting per year for the purposes of electing leadership and reviewing yearly objectives with the membership. Extreme circumstances, such as an earthquake, could warrant cancellation of any meeting by the Leadership Board. Section 2. Special membership meetings or special Chairs meetings may be called at any time by the Chair or by a quorum of the Leadership Board. Article VIII Committees

Section 1. There shall be as many standing, special/ad hoc committees as is necessary for the successful operation and function of MPNW. Job descriptions shall exist for all committees. Committee Chairs are encouraged to have committee members to assist them. All committees report to the Leadership Board. Election Committee shall conduct the election of Leadership Board. Finance Committee shall review the financial decisions of the Treasurer and shall be responsible for reconciling the Treasurers records at least annually and/or upon change of Treasurer. Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for initiating, implementing, and coordinating fundraising and promotional events for MPNW. Newsletter Committee shall oversee content, design, and production of the MPNW newsletter. Nominating Committee shall maintain a list of prospective Leadership Board members. Public Relations shall promote MPNW by managing media relations, sending press releases promoting meetings and other Network events to media as appropriate. The formation of new committees is at the discretion of the Leadership Board. All committees shall report to the Leadership Board. Section 2. Committee members may elect a chair from the committees own membership or may choose not to elect a chair. A committees method of functioning is at the discretion of its members. Section 3. Each committee shall maintain written operating procedures to be passed on to successors within one month of the successors appointment. Each member of the Committee shall be furnished a copy of the written procedures. A copy of all procedures shall be provided to the Secretary to maintain for historical purposes. Article IX - Indemnification Section 1. Indemnification in Actions The Leadership Board shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Board) to procure judgment in favor an action brought under Section 5233 of the California Non-profit Public Benefit Corporation Law. Article X Amendments to Bylaws

Section 1. The Bylaws shall be revised or amended only with previous written notice and approval of twothirds (2/3) of the Leadership Board. Article XI Parliamentary Authority Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised (current edition) shall apply on all questions of procedure and parliamentary law not specified in these Bylaws. Article XII Dissolution Section 1. In the event of dissolution of this association, assets shall be distributed to an organization or institution qualified for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding provisions of the Internal Revenue laws of the United States of America in effect at that time, and which organization or institution can best accomplish the general objectives for which this association is organized. Said organization or institution shall be selected by two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting at a properly announced general membership meeting, or if such a meeting can for any reason not be held, then by a court of competent jurisdiction within the State of California.

Amended by the Leadership Board Saturday, March 17, 2013