ONE Bylaws
Last Updated: November 2023
Article1: Name and Office
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Section 1. Name: The name of this organization shall be the Organized Neighbors of Edgewood (ONE).
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Section 2. Office: The principal office of ONE shall be located in DeKalb County, Georgia, City of Atlanta.
Article 2: Purposes and Objectives
The purposes and objectives of the organization are to:
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To improve the quality of life for those who live and work in the Edgewood neighborhood through civic engagement, the ability to participate in planning and development decisions, and greater opportunity to draw upon the qualities and capabilities of all residents to promote a vibrant, diverse, and family-friendly neighborhood.
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To facilitate protection of persons and property within the Organization’s geographical boundaries from crime and lawless acts;
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To beautify the Edgewood neighborhood, through the advocacy of more green space, litter-free streets and sidewalks, and creative placement and use of public art.
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To work cooperatively with Neighborhood Planning Unit "O" (NPU-O) and other organizations to advance the goals of ONE.
Article 3: Jurisdiction
The initial geographic boundaries of ONE within DeKalb County, and the City of Atlanta shall extend on its northern border to an area roughly defined as the limits of the East-West MARTA tracks, but to include any and all streets, residences, and businesses not included in theCandlerPark Neighborhood Organization; on its western border it shall extend to Moreland Avenue, including all residences, property, and businesses on the east side of said dedicated street; on the southern border to, and including, the limits of Interstate 20 (I-20); and on the eastern border to the limits of the Kirkwood Neighborhood Organization, as they existed as of November 1995, being Montgomery Street SE from 1-20 to Hosea L Williams Dr NE then turning to the east along Hosea L Williams Dr NE to Woodbine Ave SE and then in a northeasterly direction to Roger Street NE, and then in a northerly direction to and including DeKalb Avenue. Persons living on any of the designated streets on the
eastern boundary may join either ONE or the Kirkwood Neighborhood Organization, or both.
Article 4: Membership
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Section 1. Membership. ONE shall be composed of two classes of members defined as Business Members and Individual Members.
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Section 2. Business Members shall be defined as any duly appointed, voting age representative of a business that maintains a regular, distinct, commercially zoned place of business within the boundaries of ONE. Business members shall also include persons or entities who own property within the geographical boundaries of ONE but do not use that property as a principal residence. Business entities and owners of property not used as a principal residence may not be represented by more than one Business Member.
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Section 3: Individual Members shall be any person of voting age who resides, works, owns or exhibits an intention to purchase a primary residence within the boundaries of ONE. Intent shall be evidenced by a bonafide agreement to purchase a primary residence within the boundaries of ONE or ownership of land situated within the boundaries of ONE upon which theCity of Atlanta hasissued a permit to allow the construction of a residential structure.
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Section 4. Final determination and verification of membership in ONE shall be vested in the Vice President of ONE, who may from time to time delegate said responsibility to any other officer of ONE, in writing.
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Section 5. Membership Rights: Each member shall have such rights and privileges consistent with these Bylaws, as the Executive Board may, from time to time, determine. As a condition of consideration of membership, each applicant or member does hereby agree to release and forever discharge and hold harmless ONE, its: Executive Board and its Officers; other elected officials; duly appointed committee members; employees; representatives; contractors; interns; volunteers; guests; agents; their successors; and assigns from any and all liability and claims, demands, rights of action, or actions, of whatever kind of nature, either in law or equity, which arise or may hereafter arise from or through the course of their sanctioned activities with ONE.
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Section 6. Membership Eligibility:
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Business Members shall be eligible for membership based upon the aforementioned criteria and upon the payment of a $225 (two hundred twenty five dollars) annual membership contribution, said contribution being due upon the request for membership, payable in advance, non-refundable and prorated. No refunds shall be due Business Members in any amount or for any reason.​
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Current residents, those who have exhibited intent to become residents, as described herein, and persons who work within the boundaries of ONE shall be eligible to join ONE as Individual Members after attending one (1) regular monthly meeting and registering said attendance through the secretary of ONE. Individual Members shall not be subject to a fee of any kind as a precondition to membership in ONE.
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Section 7. Membership Voting: Each Individual and Business Member in good standing, shall have the right to cast one (1) vote. Members must be present and eligible to vote, as determined by the Vice President or their designated officer, to cast a vote. Proxy voting is explicitly prohibited. Note: Per O.C.G.A.§14-3-724 proxy voting may be allowed unless expressly prohibited by an organization’s bylaws.
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Section 8. Qualifying Address Verification: Verification of a qualifying address within the geographical boundaries of ONE may be established by any one of the following:
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Valid Passport or Passport Card issued by the United States of America;
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Valid Class C Drivers’ License, Class M Motorcycle License or Commercial (CDL) License issued by the State of Georgia;
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Valid State ID Card, Voter ID Card or Veteran ID Card issued by the State of Georgia;
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Real Property Deed or non-preliminary HUD-1 Form (SettlementStatement);
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Copy of a current lease or rental agreement, executed by all parties;
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A DeKalb County Annual Assessment Notice or property tax bill for the current or prior year.​​
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Article 5: Meetings
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Section 1. There shall be regular monthly meetings of the membership at a time and place determined by the Executive Board, by written agreement and without the need to amend these Bylaws. The Executive Board shall provide the membership with notification that includes the time and place of such meetings not less than one calendar week in advance.
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Section 2. A Quorum shall consist of not less than eight members attending a meeting.
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Section 3. No member in good standing may be denied their right to attend regular meetings; however, attendance by members of the general public shall be at the discretion of the meeting’s chairperson.
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Section 4. The meeting’s Presiding Officer shall have the responsibility to ensure that the approved meeting agenda is observed and, therefore, may limit the amount of time allocated to orders of business, provided that the amount of time permitted to debate motions is distributed equitably.
Article 6: Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of the Officers of ONE and, for voting purposes or to conduct business, three Officers are required.
Article 7: Officers
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Section 1. The elective Officers for ONE shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
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Section 2. Any member who has attended three (3) regular meetings in the previous 12 months shall be eligible for election as an Officer of ONE. For purposes of meeting this requirement, the regular meeting where by Officers are to be elected shall not be considered.
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Section 3. The term of office shall be for 12 months and elections for new Officers shall be held at the regular November meeting of each year and new Officers shall assume office on January 1 of the following year.
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Section 4. President. The President shall preside at all regular and Executive Board meetings, shall prepare an agenda for each meeting, and see to it that the expressed will of ONE is carried out.
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Section 5. Vice President. The Vice President shall assist the President in the discharge of the President's duties and the Vice President shall perform the President's duties in the event of the President's temporary disability or absence.
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Section 6. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of regular and Executive Board meetings and shall coordinate the timely production and distribution of relevant information to members of ONE.
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Section 7. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep and maintain the financial records of ONE and shall be prepared to report on the financial status of ONE at each regular meeting.
Article 8: Election Procedures
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Section 1. No later than by the September regular meeting of ONE, the Executive Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee for the purpose of seeking members interested in becoming an Officer of ONE.
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Section 2. The presiding officer of the regular October meeting shall announce that ONE is seeking members who are interested in serving on the Executive Board for the coming year. The Nominating Committee shall report its findings at the November Executive Board meeting, to be held prior to the regular November meeting. The Nominating Committee may nominate more than one member for any elected position.
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Section 3. The names of all nominated members shall be reported to the membership at the regular November meeting of ONE. The names of those nominated and those nominated from the floor shall be considered, with each candidate having an equal amount of time to make a statement on their own behalf, answer any member’s questions, and in any case where a candidate’s name is mentioned by a member or other candidate, that candidate shall be given a an opportunity to make a rebuttal statement. Once candidates’ speaking time has concluded, an election shall be held for each Executive Board office.
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Section 4. Election shall be based upon a majority vote; should no majority be reached upon first ballot, discussion and further balloting shall take place with an immediate run-off between the two members receiving the largest number of votes in the first ballot.
Article 9: Committees and Special Appointments
The President, subject to the approval of at least two (2) other members of the Executive Board, shall setup such committees or make special appointments as may be required for the operation of ONE, including for special projects, which serve to further the goals of ONE as set forth in these ByLaws.
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Article 10: Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) members of ONE, to be appointed by not less than three (3) members of the Executive Board. Members of the Nominating Committee are eligible for nomination to Office, but if a Nominating Committee member is nominated for election, the Committee must also nominate all other members who have expressed a desire to be considered for election to that office prior to the November regular meeting.
Article 11: Procedures
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Section 1. In so far as is practical, Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed in ONE meetings.
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Section 2. Amendments to these Bylaws shall be made by at least two thirds (2/3rds) vote of the Members of ONE present at any regular monthly meeting, provided that a Notice of Attention to Amend the Bylaws, as well as the amendments proposed must be given to the membership at the regular meeting prior to a vote on the amendments.