Merrywood Property Owners Association, Inc.
By-Laws
The name of this non-profit association is Merrywood Property Owners Association, Inc. The objectives of the Association will be to:
1. Provide a means whereby Merrywood residents can act as a unit in matters pertaining to the common interests of the residents,
2. Maintain and enhance the quality of the Merrywood Estates community, and
3. Promote the general welfare of the community.
ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. A person owning property in Merrywood Estates, St. Tammany Parish, State of Louisiana, is eligible for membership under the articles of this Corporation and may become a member thereof, after paying the required dues to the Treasurer, and upon subscribing to the By-Laws. A renter can become a non-voting member of the association upon paying one-half the voting member dues.
Section 2. The term of membership shall be continuous from year to year, coincidental with the calendar year.
ARTICLE II
DUES
Section 1. Annual dues shall be levied by the Executive Committee and approved by the General Membership of the Corporation, within the guide lines set forth in Article II, Section 2 of these By-Laws.
Section 2. The annual dues shall be due and payable January 15.
Section 3. Any new property owner joining the Association after April 1st shall pay half dues. After October 31, no dues shall be owned for that year.
ARTICLE III
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the Board of Directors (as described in Article IV, Section 1.)
Section 2. An officer may be a member of the Board of Directors or vice versa.
Section 3. If any member of the Executive Committee ceases to be a member in good standing of this Corporation during his term of office, his office shall be automatically vacated upon the expiration of five days; written notice given over the signature of the Secretary of the Corporation and a successor shall be elected for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee. Absence of three (3) consecutive meetings shall be cause for replacement.
Section 4. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation, preserve order, enforce the Constitution and By-Laws and exercise supervision of its affairs generally. He/she shall decide all questions of procedure and order for the Corporation. He/she may, but shall not be required to vote, except in case of a tie vote at elections of officers and members of the Executive Committee, in which he/she must vote. He/she shall appoint all Committee Chairmen and shall be an ex officio member thereof. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee. He/she shall perform such other and further duties as are customarily performed by such officer.
Section 5. The Vice President shall assist the President in the discharge of the President’s duties. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation and Executive Committee in the absence of the President. He/she shall serve as Chairman of the Program Committee; shall be responsible for the meeting place and the securing of a Host and Hostess for each meeting.
Section 6. The Secretary shall keep full, true and current records of all proceedings of the Corporation, receive all communication and conduct all correspondence, have charge of all records, shall perform the same duties, with respect to the Executive Committee, and shall perform such other duties as are customarily performed by such officer.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall receive dues from the members, giving his receipt thereof. He/she shall receive all other money due to the Corporation. All money shall be deposited in the bank designated by the Executive Committee and shall be withdrawn upon the signatures of the President and Treasurer. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as customarily performed by such officer. All money and records shall be returned to the Executive Committee upon vacating office for any reason. In August of each year, an audit of all financial records will be conducted by a member of the MPOA who is not a signer on any bank account. This auditor will provide the MPOA a signed statement that this audit was conducted and that the records are found to be in agreement with bank balances and Association voting.
Section 8. No compensation shall be paid to the officers.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of three members.; one member to be elected by a majority vote of the membership, one member to be elected by the Executive Board, and the past President (ex officio) as the 3rd member.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall meet prior to the regular membership meeting as called by the President.
Section 3. Indemnity. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each director and officer now and hereafter serving the Corporation from and against any and all claims and liabilities to which he may be or become subject by reason of his now or hereafter being or having heretofore been a director or officer of the Corporation and by reason of his alleged acts or omissions as such director or officer whether or not he continues to be such officer or director at the time when any such claim or liability is asserted, and shall reimburse each such director and officer for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with defending any or all such claims or liabilities, including amounts paid or agreed to be paid in connection with reasonable settlements made before final adjudication with the approval of the Board of Directors, whether or not he continues to be such director or officer at the time such expenses are incurred; provided however, that no director or officer shall be indemnified against any claim or liability arising out of his negligence or willful misconduct or shall be indemnified again or reimbursed for any expenses incurred in defending any or all such claims or liability in settling the same unless in the judgment of the directors of the Corporation the director or officer against whom such claim or liability is asserted has not been guilty of negligence or willful conduct. The forgoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of other rights to which any director or officer may be entitled as a matter of law.
ARTICLE V
ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominating Committee – The President shall appoint three members in good standing to the nominating committee, of which at least one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Board shall name a Chairman for the committee and it shall be his duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before August 1.
(a) The committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and one member to the Board of Directors, after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall immediately report their nomination to the Secretary in writing.
(b) Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee’s report, the Secretary shall advise the President for inclusion in the September General Meeting.
(c) Additional nominations may be made only at the September meeting by any member in attendance provided the person so nominated does not decline when his name is proposed. No person may be a candidate for more than one position, and the additional nominations which are provided for herein may be made only from among those members who have not accepted a nomination of the Nominating Committee.
Section 2. The owner(s) of a parcel of property pays one dues and has one vote per owner.
Section 3. A vote of the General Membership at the September meeting will determine officers for the upcoming year and these officers will be installed at the end of the September meeting.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
Section 1. An annual membership meeting shall be held in September and at any time that the President or those noted in Article VI Section 2 see a need.
Section 2. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President, Vice President, a majority of the Executive Committee, or by 10% of the members in good standing, upon five days notice to members.
Section 3. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held prior to the regular meeting or upon request of three members of the Committee or upon request of the President or the Vice President in the absence of the President.
ARTICLE VII
COMMITTEES
Section 1. The President, immediately following his installation shall appoint the following standing Committee Chairmen who will ask members to serve on the respective committees:
(a) Membership Committee
(b) House & Entertainment Committee (Firehouse Meetings)
(c) Beautification Committee
(d) Publicity Committee
(e) Welcoming Committee
(f) Program Committee (Chaired by the Vice President)
(g) Protective Covenants and Architectural Committee
(h) Children’s Activities Committee
