About Us

The name of this organization shall be the WEST PACES/NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, INC. (the "Association").

The purpose of the Association shall be (i) to organize the residents of the Area, as defined below; (ii) to keep its members informed of the concerns and needs of the Area; (iii) to promote the interests and maintain the integrity of the Area; and (iv) any other lawful purpose or purposes not specifically prohibited to nonprofit corporations under the laws of the State of Georgia.

The Association shall continuously maintain in Georgia a registered office and a registered agent whose business office shall be identical with the registered office. The address of the initial registered office and the name of the initial registered agent at that address are set forth in the Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors may from time to time change the address of the registered office and the name of the registered agent at that address by filing the appropriate statement in the Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia in accordance with Section 14-3-502 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as amended.

Section 1 - Membership

The members of the Association shall be those natural persons who are residents of the Area and who have timely paid the annual membership dues prescribed by the Board of Directors. Dues shall be assessed annually on a "per household" basis, and, upon timely payment of dues with respect to a household, all natural persons age eighteen (18) years or more residing in such household shall become members of the Association. None of the rights or privileges of membership shall be exercisable by any person whose dues are not currently paid or is not a natural person.

Section 2 - Area

The Area for the purpose of these By-Laws means that certain portion of the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, bounded as follows: on the north by West Paces Ferry Road, on the west and southwest by Northside Parkway, on the southeast by Moores Mill Road, and on the east by Northside Drive.

Section 1 - Annual Meeting

(a) Purposes:  The annual meeting of the members of the Association shall be held for the election of Officers and Directors-at-Large and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, on such date, time, and place as the Board of Directors may by resolution decide.

(b) Notice:  Written notice of the annual meeting of members, stating the date, time, and place of the meeting, shall be mailed or delivered to each member whose dues are then currently paid, at his or her address as shown on the records of the Association, unless such member waives notice of the meeting, at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting. Provided, however, that notice given to one member residing in a particular household shall be deemed to constitute notice to all members residing in such household, and provided further that notice given by mail shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail duly stamped and addressed (to the address appearing on the records of the Association), and notice given by hand shall be deemed given when placed in the residence mailbox of the recipient. Notice of special meetings of the members shall be given in the same manner and governed by the same provisions set forth above with respect to notice of the annual meeting, except that in the case of a special meeting, notice shall be given not less than (5) days prior to such meeting.

Any member may execute a waiver of notice, in person or by proxy, either before or after any meeting, and shall be deemed to have waived notice if he or she is present at such meeting in person or by proxy. Neither the business transacted nor the purpose of the meeting need be specified in the waiver.

Notice of any meeting may be given by the President, the Secretary, the person or persons calling the meeting, or any person designated by any of the foregoing. No notice need be given of the time and place of reconvening of any adjourned meeting if the time and place to which the meeting is adjourned are announced at the adjourned meeting.

(c) Voting Eligibility:  Each member of the Association whose dues are then currently paid shall be entitled to one vote.

(d) Voting by Proxy:  A member otherwise entitled to vote may vote either in person or by a proxy that he or she has duly executed in writing. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution unless a longer period is expressly provided in the proxy.

(e) Consent:  Any action required to be, or which may be, taken at a meeting of the members may be taken without a meeting if written consent setting forth the actions so taken shall be signed by all of the members entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous affirmative vote of the members and shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the members.

Section 2 - Special Meetings

Special meetings of the members may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or the President, or upon written request of the lesser of (i) ten (10%) percent or (ii) twenty-five (25) of the members of the Association whose dues are currently paid. Notice shall be given to the members not less than five (5) days prior to such meeting.

Section 3 - Quorum

A quorum for the transaction of business at any annual or special meeting of members shall exist when the lesser of (i) ten (10%) percent or (ii) twenty-five (25) of the members of the Association whose dues are then currently paid are represented at such meeting. Unless expressly provided by these By-Laws, a simple majority of the members present in person at any annual or special meeting at which there is a quorum shall be necessary to pass any resolution.

Section 1 - Officers

(a) Composition:  The Officers shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, an Immediate Past President, and such other officers and assistant officers as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected at the annual meeting of members to one-year terms. The Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer shall be appointed for one-year terms by the President after the annual meeting of members. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except that the same person shall not be both President and Secretary. The Board of Directors may designate a Vice President as an Executive Vice President and may designate the order in which other Vice Presidents may act.

(b) Nomination:  A slate of Officers to be elected shall be selected by the duly constituted Nominating Committee. Such Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting of members and shall take office immediately.

(c) Term:  Each Officer shall hold office for the term for which he or she has been elected or appointed and until his or her successor has been qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation, removal from office, or death. 

(d) Vacancy:  Vacancies in any office shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired term of such office.

(e) Duties:

     (1) The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and shall give general supervision and direction to the affairs of the Association, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the members, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees.

     (2) The Vice President shall act in the case of the absence or disability of the President. The Vice President shall in the absence or disability of the President perform such other duties as may be required of him or her by the President.

     (3) The Secretary shall record and maintain the minutes of the proceedings of the members and of the Board of Directors, and any committees of the Board of Directors, and shall have custody of and affix the seal of the Association when necessary. The Assistant Secretary is authorized to affix the seal of the Association, and both the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary are authorized to give certificates with respect to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Association and any resolutions of the members, the Board of Directors, or any committee of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have custody of all files, records, and other documents and be responsible for their safekeeping.

     (4) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies of the Association, shall deposit same in such depository as shall be designated by the Executive Committee, shall expend monies upon the direction of the Executive Committee, and shall prepare an annual financial report. The Treasurer shall file all necessary tax returns and shall file the annual registration with the Georgia Secretary of State. The Treasurer shall maintain complete and accurate books and records with respect to the finances and operation of the Association. The books and records shall be available for periodic review by the Board of Directors.

     (5) Each officer or other agent of the Association shall have such other duties and authority as may be conferred upon him or her by the Board of Directors or delegated to him or her by the President.

Section 2 - The Board of Directors

(a) Composition:  The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers and the Directors-at-Large.

(b) Directors-at-Large:  There shall be a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of twenty (20) Directors-at-Large. Directors-at-Large shall be elected for one-year terms.

(c) Nominations:  A slate of Directors-at-Large shall be selected by the duly constituted Nominating Committee. Such Directors-at-Large shall be elected at the annual meeting of members and shall take office immediately.

(d) Duties:  The Board of Directors shall manage the affairs of the Association, subject to any restrictions imposed by these By-Laws.

(e) Regular Meetings:  The Board of Directors shall meet at least once during the fiscal year. Notification by mail, personal delivery, or electronic transmission shall be given at least fifteen (15) days before such meeting to the Directors.

(f) Special Meetings:  The Board of Directors may meet at such time as the Board may deem appropriate. However, such Board shall meet when requested to do so upon twenty-four (24) hours' notice by any two (2) members thereof, which notice shall specify the date, time, and place of the meeting.

(g) Quorum:  Twenty (20%) percent of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

(h) Removal:  The Board of Directors shall serve until their successors are elected and have taken office; however, any member of the Board may be removed by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors present and voting at a meeting duly called for such purpose. Any such member of the Board whose proposed removal is to be voted on at such meeting shall be given prior written notice thereof and shall be given the opportunity to be heard at such meeting.

(i) Resignation:  Any Board member may resign by giving written notice of same. A Director shall be deemed to have resigned as a Director if his or her dues are not currently paid, and the Board of Directors may, upon the vote of at least fifty (50%) percent of the Directors present and voting at a meeting of the Board, deem a Director to have resigned if he or she is absent from three (3) meetings of the Board.

(j) Vacancy:  Vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled by the remaining members of such Board. Such new members shall serve the unexpired term of such office.

(k) Conflict of Interest:  Any member of the Board of Directors or of a standing committee shall reveal to the Board of Directors, officers, and respective committee any conflict or potential conflict of interest in matters before the Association.

(l) Eligibility:  Directors shall consist of natural persons age twenty-one (21) years or older who are members of the Association and whose dues are currently paid at the time of their election.

Section 3 - Committees

(a) Executive Committee:  There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Chairman of the Security Committee. This committee shall have the powers of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board of Directors. A quorum shall consist of a majority of all members of the Executive Committee.

(b) Nominating Committee:  There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of not less than three (3) members. The Immediate Past President shall be the chairman. Other members shall be named by the Executive Committee. This committee shall submit a complete slate of officers and Directors-at-Large to the President at least ten (10) days prior to the annual meeting of the members.

(c) Zoning Committee:  There shall be a Zoning Committee which shall be responsible for representing the Association at the NPU-A Executive Board Meeting and General Meetings, and all other land use meetings affecting the Area of the Association. The committee shall consist of the Zoning Chairman and members appointed by the Executive Committee.

(d) Membership Committee: There shall be a Membership Committee which shall be responsible for retaining and increasing membership in the Association. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for maintaining the membership records of the Association. The committee shall consist of the Membership Chairman and members appointed by the Executive Committee.

(e) Security Committee:  There shall be a Security Committee which shall be responsible for managing the off-duty police who are hired by the Association to patrol the Area. This committee shall consist of the Security Chairman and members appointed by the Executive Committee.

(f) Standing Committees:  There shall be additional committees, the number and function of which shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Each such committee shall have a chairman and members appointed by the Executive Committee.

Section 1 - Fiscal Year

The fiscal year shall end December 31.

Section 2 - Record Date

For the purpose of determining members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of the members or any adjournment thereof, or in order to make a determination of members for any other purpose, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for determination of those members whose dues are currently paid, such date in any case to be not more than fifty (50) days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of members is to be taken.

Section 3 - Depositories, Signatures, and Seal

(a) Depositories:  All funds of the Association shall be deposited in the name of the Association in such bank, banks, trust companies, credit unions, or other financial institutions as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

(b) Signatures:  All contracts, deeds, and other instruments shall be signed on behalf of the Association by the President or by such other Officer or Officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

(c) Seal:  The seal of the Association shall be as follows:

[AFFIX SEAL]

Section 4 - Net Earnings

No member of the Association shall be entitled to any portion of the net earnings of the Association. Such net earnings shall not inure to the benefit of any private person and shall be held and used only for the purposes specified in the Articles of Incorporation; however, nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing the Association from paying any member or non-member for services rendered for the Association.

Section 5 - Checks

All checks of the Association shall be signed by the Treasurer, and all checks in excess of One Thousand and No/100 ($1,000.00) Dollars shall be countersigned by the President.

Section 6 - Liquidation

In the event of liquidation of the Association, any excess funds, after payment of expenses and debts, shall be distributed as directed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, provided that no such funds shall inure to the benefit of any member of the Association.

The Association shall indemnify its Officers, Directors, and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by, and in the manner provided by, Sections 14-3-850, et seq., of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as amended, and may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors and subject to the limitations contained in such Code sections, purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of such Officers.