BY-LAWS
Wappingers Falls Civic Association
Wappingers Falls , NY
Adopted   October 25, 2006

Section 1 - Name of Association. The name of this Association shall be the Wappingers Falls Civic Association.

Section 2 - Boundaries. The Association will encompass the entire Village of Wappingers Falls.

Section 3 – Mission . The Wappingers Falls Civic Association is a grassroots volunteer organization of civic-minded individuals. Our mission is:

To protect and enhance the quality of life in the Village of Wappingers Falls.

To encourage residents to take an active interest in village affairs.

To keep association members informed on matters that concern our community

To promote political responsibility through open communication and advocacy of public policy.

To support local government in its efforts to increase the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of government services.

To encourage long term residency and owner-occupied property

To perform civic projects as needed to reach our goals

We believe that democracy depends on informed and active participation of citizens in government. When citizens fail to participate meaningfully in government, democracy is endangered. Thus, our goal is to encourage informed residents to participate in village affairs, thereby encouraging local government that is responsive and accountable to residents needs.

To implement our mission and goals, the Civic Association draws on the volunteer efforts of its members. We follow village meetings; study issues of community concern; and work to keep residents informed on issues that affect the community.

The Civic Association is nonpartisan. We will sponsor candidate debates, but do not support or oppose any candidate for public office. We take positions on selected local government issues. We strive to work in a cooperative and constructive spirit with public organizations and our village’s public officials.

Section 4 – Membership This Association shall be non-sectarian and politically non-partisan. Any person of voting age living within the Village of Wappingers Falls who is interested in joining the Association in the pursuit of its mission, shall be eligible to become a member.

Section 5 – Executive Board. The executive board of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer elected annually by the Association membership. Terms of office shall be for one year (May - April).

Section 6 – Duties of Officers

A. The President shall: 

1.) act as the chief executive of the Association, presiding at meetings of the Association.

2.) sign all official correspondence on behalf of the Association

3.) appoint committees as deemed necessary

4.) be ex-officio a member of all committees of the Association.

5.) appoint a member to fill the vacancy of any elected office other than the Presidency that occurs during the year, with the approval of the membership.

B. The Vice-President shall:

            1.) assist the president in the proper discharge of the duties of office.

            2.) perform all the duties of president in his or her absence.

            3.) represent the Association and the President at meetings at which the Association
            should be represented.
            4.) Automatically assume the office of President in the event of a vacancy
 
C. The Secretary shall:

            1.) Take the minutes of all meetings of this Association
            2.) Perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President and the  Vice
            President
            3.) perform such other duties as may pertain to the office

D. The Treasurer shall: -

            1.) Receive and record payments of all dues of the Association
            2.) Receive and account for all funds of the Association.
            3.) In the absence of the President, Vice-President and Secretary, perform the duties
             of the President.

Section 7 - Elections. The officers of the Association shall be elected by the members of the Association at the Associations April meeting. All elections shall be determined by plurality vote, and shall be by ballot except when there are no contested vacancies. When balloting occurs, the President will appoint two members in good standing who are not themselves candidates to count the ballots. When there are no contested vacancies, the President may call for election of the nominees by acclamation. A member in good standing must be present in order to vote.

Section 8 - Nominations. Nomination of Officers shall take place at the regularly scheduled March meeting. An individual running for office must be a member in good standing. No elected village official shall be nominated for office.

Section 9 - Committees. As is deemed necessary, the President shall appoint members to committees or persons to study and report on such matters of interest and concern to the community that may arise.

Section 10 – Meetings. The regularly scheduled meetings of the Association shall be held at the designated location on the last Wednesday of each month. The executive board may reschedule the regular meeting with seven days notice to the membership.

Section 11 - Additional and Special Meetings. In addition to monthly meetings, the officers of the association may call for other meetings of the general membership when such meetings are deemed necessary and desirable. At all special meetings of the membership only that business designated in the call shall be transacted.

Section 12 - Quorum. At any regular membership meeting of the Association a quorum shall comprise 7 members of the association.

Section 13 - Manner of conducting business. Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution and By-Laws, Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of the meetings.

Section 14 - Manner of voting. The voting on all questions and motions coming before the Association shall be by voice vote or by the showing of hands, except in the case of elections at which balloting has occurred.

Section 15 - Membership dues. The amount of the Association's annual dues shall be in such an amount as determined by a vote of the membership at the January meeting each year. In order to remain a member in good standing dues must be paid by March 1^st.

Section 16 – Implementation of Bylaws - These By-Laws shall become effective as of the date on which they were adopted. At the time these bylaws are adopted the Association shall appoint an executive board to serve until the first regular election as per section 7.

Section 17 – Amendments to the Bylaws The By-Laws of the Association may be amended only with the approval of two-thirds of the members at an Association meeting, present at a regular or special meeting, but no such amendment shall be adopted unless at least fourteen (14) days notice of such pending amendment has been given to the members of the Association.