click here for a pdf of our Constitution and By-laws
Mission Statement:
Fostering the spirit of community within Pine Lake, and contributing that spirit to the broader community around us.
Vision and Goals
Pine Lake Association of Involved Neighbors recognizes the unique character of the Pine Lake community.
We work to these Goals:
- Support the continuing vitality of the Pine Lake community, as it grows and develops with changes around us.
- Provide opportunities for our members to contribute to the community.
- Use the unique strength of the Pine Lake community to create positive change, in targeted ways, in the broader community around us.
- Become a more integrated member of the central DeKalb County community.
P.L.A.I.N.
Pine Lake Association of Involved Neighbors
Constitution and Bylaws
Adopted June 11, 1995
Revised: June 1996, October 1996, January 1997,
May 1997, June 1998, November 2000
CONSTITUTION
Article I
Name and Headquarters
Section 1
The name of this organization shall be the Pine Lake Association of Involved Neighbors, also known as
P.LA.I.N.
Section 2
The headquarters of this organization shall be maintained at the principal residence or place of business of
the President of the organization. The mailing address shall be established by the board of directors.
Article II
Affiliation
This organization shall not be and is herby not affiliated with any other organization.
Article III
Purpose
Section 1
The purpose of this organization shall be to support the objectives and the mission statement as outlined in
our bylaws.
Section 2
This organization shall be nonpartisan, nonsectarian, and shall wholly abstain from any affiliations or
endorsements of candidates for public office.
Article IV
Membership
Any citizen of Pine Lake is eligible for active membership in this organization.
Article V
Government
Section 1
The government of this organization shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of the officers and
the Immediate Past President. Said officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2
The officers of this organization shall be elected in the manner prescribed by the bylaws and shall hold
office for a period of one year, or until their successors are duly elected and charged.
Article VI
Amendment
This constitution may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at any regular or special
meeting provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been mailed or delivered to the last known
address of each member at least 21 (twenty-one) days prior to the date of such meeting.
BYLAWS
Article I
Membership
Section 1 (Eligibility and Qualifications for Membership)
Any resident of the city of Pine Lake, Georgia, is eligible for active membership in this organization. A
resident of Pine Lake qualifies for active membership upon application in writing and payment of dues.
Section 2 (Rights of Membership)
All active members of this organization have the right to vote in matters concerning the organization, and
may hold office, if elected by a majority of members voting, and other rights as described by the Board or
Membership.
Section 3 (Resignations and Disciplinary Actions)
Membership in this organization may be terminated by a majority vote by the Board of Directors at a duly
called meeting of said Board, provided that the Board shall have, at a previous meeting, voted that the
presence of such member is prejudicial to the best interest of the organization and further that the member
in question is subsequently given a written notice of the pending vote to terminate and reasons for it at least
five (5) days prior to the meeting and is given an opportunity address the board on his/her behalf at that
meeting. In the event of a vote of termination, all dues for the fiscal year are forfeit.
Any member voluntarily terminating his/her membership should state such intent to the Secretary so that
appropriate or necessary changes might be made prior to the date of separation. All dues for the fiscal year
are forfeit.
Article II
Dues
Section 1
Annual dues are payable on or before the beginning of the organization’s fiscal year, which is July 1.
Renewal for new members who pay dues after March 1 shall be July 1 of the next year.
Section 2
The annual dues for active members of this organization shall be twenty-five ($25) dollars per household.
After December 31 and until July 1 of each year, dues are twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50) per
household.
Article III
Governing Body
Section 1
The government of this organization shall be vested in the Board of Directors, which shall be subject to the
will of the membership.
Section 2
The Board of Directors shall have control and management of the property of this organization subject to
the will of the membership. Funds of the organization may be withdrawn from the bank or banks or other
financial institutions with which they are on deposit by the joint signatures of any two (2) officers. The
Board of Directors shall establish such rules of the operation of the organization’s business as shall be
consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the organization.
Section 3
Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled by nominations from the floor at the first regular
meeting of the organization after said vacancy occurs, by a majority of those members present. The
members of the board elected shall remain in office for the duration of the term of the individuals thus
replaced. If the office of President is vacated, the Immediate Past President shall fill the office until a new
President is elected at the second regular meeting after the vacancy occurs. If the Immediate Past President
is unable to fill the office of President during this interim period, then the Vice President shall preside in
the absence of the President. Nominations and election of a new President shall be taken from the general
membership at the second regular meeting after the office of President is vacated.
Section 4
The Board of Directors shall keep minutes of all its meetings. Such minutes shall be permanently filed in
the records of the organization.
Section 5
A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members of the organization present at a regular meeting of the
organization shall be sufficient to veto an action of the Board of Directors on a motion duly made and
seconded.
Section 6
Any proposed program of expenditure of money for which there is no clearly established policy must first
be presented to the Board of Directors before it may be presented to the membership.
Section 7
Any action taken by the Board of Directors in regard to agreements or raising of funds that carries over
from one administration to the next shall be approved by a majority vote of the active membership.
Article IV
Elections
Section 1
Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the annual election, the President shall appoint, with the approval of
the Board of Directors, a nominating committee of not less than three (3) members.
Section 2
The nominating committee shall decide upon the names of candidates for election and shall make written
recommendations to the membership not less than ten (10) days prior to the annual election. Additional
names may be placed in nomination at the time of balloting provided the nominee is a member in good
standing and has the appropriate nomination and second.
Section 3
At the annual election, there shall be elected a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer in order.
Voting shall be by individual members in good standing, and no person shall cast more than one vote.
Proxies and absentee ballots will be recognized.
Section 4
Except for the initial election of officers, officers shall take office July 1, which shall begin the
organization’s fiscal term. Term of office shall be for one year.
Article V
Meetings
Section 1
The annual meeting of this organization shall be held in May of each year and notice of such meeting shall
be mailed or delivered to each member at their last known address at least ten (10) days prior thereto.
Section 2
The organization shall hold a minimum of eight (8) meetings, which includes special events, during the
organization’s fiscal year. Fifteen (15) percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be at prearranged dates or at the call of the President. At all
meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4
Special meetings of the membership or the Board of Directors may be called by the President or Secretary
at the request of at least four (4) members.
Article VI
Duties of Officers
Section 1
The President, as chief executive officer of the organization, shall supervise the organizations affairs and
activities, and shall make an annual report to the members. He/she shall be the organization’s primary
representative to the public.
Section 2
The Vice President shall preside at membership and Board of Directors meetings in the absence of the
President, and shall also work with the President on such affairs of the organization as finances and public
relations.
Section 3
The Secretary shall oversee all communication and give notice of all regular and special meetings and shall
keep a permanent record of the minutes of such meetings. He/she shall be the custodian of all official
meeting records and correspondence of the organization.
Section 4
The Treasurer shall issue notices of dues payable and be responsible for the collection thereof, the books of
the organization, disperse funds as required and shall report monthly on the financial condition of hte
organization. He/she shall be custodian of all financial records of the organization and shall prepare a report
for audit by his/her successor.
Article VII
Committees
Section 1
The Board of Directors shall determine the committees deemed proper and necessary to fulfill the
objectives and purpose of the organization.
Section 2
All committee chairpersons shall be appointed by the President, subject to approval of the Board of
Directors.
Section 3
The President and Vice President shall be ex-officio members of all committees.
Article VIII
Authority to Bind
No member of this organization shall contract for or incur debt or enter into any agreement or otherwise
obligate this organization except by authorization of the Board of Directors or the membership.
Article IX
Rules of Order
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of the organization and its constituent
parts except as provided by these bylaws.
Article X
Removal from Office
Any officer may be removed from office as a result of failure to fulfill the duties of said office or for
conduct detrimental to the best interests of the organization. Said removal must follow the following
procedures:
1. A petition stating the charge or charges shall be filed with the Secretary and signed by two-thirds
(2/3) of the Board of Directors or by two-thirds (2/3) of the members in good standing.
2. The Secretary shall notify each members at least twenty-one (21) days before the question is
placed on the general membership meeting agenda.
3. Said officer shall be permitted written notice of the charge or charges ten (10) days before the
question is to be placed on the general membership meeting agenda.
4. The petitioners shall present their case first, said officer shall be heard second and the vote shall be
taken third. Two-thirds (2/3) of those voting shall be necessary to remove said officer from office. A
quorum must be present at this meeting. Should said officer be the Secretary, the Vice President shall
receive and distribute the petition. Should the officer be the President, the Vice President shall preside
during removal proceedings. No removal proceedings shall be based more than once on the same evidence.
Article XI
Policies
Written policies shall be established which shall rule pertaining to the adoption of programs, duties of
officers and other matters of concern to the organization. These policies may be adopted or amended by a
majority vote of the members in good standing present at a regular or special meeting of the organization.
Article XII
Appropriations Committee
A standing Appropriations Committee composed of a chairman and two (2) committee members, with the
Vice President as an ex-officio member, shall function one year to the next. The duties of the
Appropriations Committee shall be to review all community or charitable donations of moneys by the
organization. The Committee recommendations shall be submitted to the Board of Directors before any
action may be taken at a general meeting of the organization.
Article XIII
Section 1
Mission Statemen
Fostering the spirit of community within Pine Lake, and contributing that spirit to the broader community around us.
Section 2
Vision and Goals
Pine Lake Association of Involved Neighbors recognizes the unique character of the Pine Lake community.
We work to these Goals:
- Support the continuing vitality of the Pine Lake community, as it grows and develops with changes around us.
- Provide opportunities for our members to contribute to the community.
- Use the unique strength of the Pine Lake community to create positive change, in targeted ways, in the broader community around us.
- Become a more integrated member of the central DeKalb County community
Article XIV
Copy of Bylaws
A current copy of these Bylaws and the Constitution shall be maintained in the office of this organization.
Each member shall be given a complete copy of the Constitution and Bylaws and any changes thereto that
may from time to time be made.
Article XV
Dissolution of Organization
Upon dissolution of this organization, after all outstanding debts have been paid, the balance of all moneys
shall be dispersed to the General Fund of the City of Pine Lake.
Article XVI
Amendment Procedure
These Bylaws may be amended or repealed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active membership at any
meeting. Unless the Board of Directors initiates such proposed Bylaws change, such change shall be
presented to the Board for study and recommendation. The Board of Directors shall have not more than
twenty-one (21) days in which to report to the membership. The Board’s report shall be advisory only and
shall not be binding on the membership.