Click below for our a map to our New Dogpark
Bylaws of
Paw Pals of Grand Prairie
A Non-Profit Association
Article I. The name of this Association is Paw Pals of Grand Prairie.
Article II. Purpose
A. To support the use of designated areas within the City of Grand Prairie as off-leash dog exercise areas.
B. To be advocates of responsible dog ownership.
C. To serve as a local educational resource on dog ownership.
D. To advise and provide ancillary support the City of Grand Prairie’s Parks and Recreation Department on matters concerning the off-leash dog exercise area
E. To collect and administer membership fees and other funds donated for the enhancement of the off-leash dog exercise area as well as responsible dog ownership.
Article III. Membership
A. Eligibility shall be open to anyone who endorses the purpose, abides by these Bylaws, and who meets requirements of the membership defined below.
B. Membership shall consist of an Individual Voting Membership who pays $25.00 annual dues. Each Individual Voting Member shall have one vote.
C. Membership may not be transferred.
D. Termination – The membership of any voting member shall terminate upon occurrence of any of the following:
1. Resignation of the member
2. Failure to pay dues
3. Determination by two-thirds of the Executive Board that a member has violated the Articles of these Bylaws.
Article IV. Voting
A. Eligibility to vote – all voting members in good standing shall be entitled to one vote at a meeting of the members.
B. Methods of voting on pre-announced items such as changes in bylaws, elections, etc., voting may be done with any of the following methods:
1. Return e-mail
2. Return ballot by US Mail
3. Oral, hand or ballot at meetings
4. Signed Fax
All other votes must be made in person at the membership meetings.
C. Nominations and Elections
1. Members shall be mailed ballots at least four (4) weeks in advance of officer elections,
2. Members can cast their votes for board members as shown in Article IV, Section B above.
3. Members may write-in nominees who are voting members
4. Board members shall be elected by a simple majority vote
Article V. Executive Board
A. Number of Board Members – The Executive Board shall consist of no more than five (5) voting offices that shall be elected and installed at the annual meeting. The officers of the board shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Publicity Chairperson.
B. Qualifications
1. Board members shall be voting members in good standing.
2. Board members shall be subject to financial self interest/conflict of interest exclusions:
a) No member shall have a financial self interest in the investments, fund-raising efforts, projects funded, or on-going maintenance efforts paid for by the association.
b) No member of the Executive Board shall have a financial self-interest in the dog park.
C. Specific Powers and Limitations
1. The Executive Board shall administer the affairs; control all expenditures and property; and act in the interest of the Association on matters that are consistent with the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or agreement with the City of Grand Prairie Department of Parks and Recreation and public law.
2. The Executive Board is responsible for presenting and receiving approval for the annual budget. The general voting membership must approve any extra budgetary items.
3. The Executive Board shall have no power that subjects the association to any debt, encumbrance, or liability beyond the amount of the Association’s budgeted items.
4. The Executive Board shall create and disband committees as may be considered necessary from time to time.
5. The Executive Board may not remove board members/officers; fill board vacancies; amend the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; or dissolve the association without approval by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voting membership.
D. Length of Term: Board members shall be elected to a term of two (2) years. President, Treasurer, and Publicity Chairperson shall be elected on odd numbered years, and the Secretary and Vice President shall be elected on even numbered years.
E. Compensation: Executive Board members shall not receive compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for expenses directly related to association business, if deemed to be just and reasonable by the Executive board.
F. Meetings
1. The Executive Board shall schedule a minimum of quarterly members’ meetings.
2. The Executive Board shall hold regular monthly board meetings to attend and administer on going planning, financial, and operational needs of the Association. Executive Board meetings require a three-fourths (3/4), 75% quorum to vote on any issues or proposal presented at that meeting, i.e., a meeting can occur, but votes are not valid unless a quorum is present.
3. Executive Board meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order and enforced by the President.
4. Any agenda items must be submitted to the Secretary at least ten (10) business days prior to the scheduled membership meeting. The Secretary will distribute the agenda to the membership ten (10) business days prior to the meeting.
5. Any decision by the Executive board may be overturned by a two-thirds (2/3) membership vote in the next scheduled membership meeting.
H. Committees
1. The President, with the approval of the Board, shall from time to time create standing and ad-hoc committees, each consisting o f two (2) or more members, for the purpose of achieving specific goals and objectives.
2. Standing committees may include, but not be limited to:
a) Project/Fund-raising
b) Membership
c) Publicity and Advertising
3. The Executive Board, upon approval of the Committee itself, shall appoint, remove, and/or replace the Committee Chairperson, as necessary, excluding the Publicity Chairperson.
4. Each project/event shall have a Chairperson who will be responsible for its overall planning, funding, advertising, and implementation. That person shall coordinate the events activities with other committee chairpersons and Executive Board members, as required.
5. The specific purpose, limitation, and functions to be performed by each committee shall be established by the Committee Chairperson and approved by the Executive Board.
Article VII. Duties of the Executive Board
: This Executive Board member will be in charge of all advertisement and publicity. He/she will oversee the fund-raiser committee.A. President
1. The President shall be the General Manager and shall supervise, direct, and control activities, business affairs, and officers.
2. The President shall preside at all members’ meetings and at all Board meetings.
3. The President shall have such powers and duties as the Board or these Bylaws prescribe.
4. The President shall sign, with the Treasurer, all checks.
5. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees created by the Board.
6. The President shall be the focal point and principal spokesperson for all Dog Park planning meetings with City of Grand Prairie personnel.
B. Vice President
1. The Vice President, in the absence of the President or Secretary, shall perform all duties of those offices.
2. The Vice President shall be the focal point for other off-leash dog parks within the North Texas area.
3. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall sign checks with the Treasurer.
4. The Vice President shall assure that the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are understood and adhered to by all Board members.
C. Secretary
1. The Secretary shall record, or cause to record, meeting minutes at annual, quarterly, and special members’ meetings; monthly board meetings; and committee meetings, as required.
2. The Secretary shall keep a Book of Minutes for all meetings, proceedings, and actions of the Executive Board; of committees of the board; and members’ meetings.
3. In support of the Secretary, Committee Chairpersons shall record committee meeting minutes and provide the same to the Secretary for inclusion in the Book of Minutes.
4. The Secretary shall maintain copies of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Committee Charters, and other documents critical to dealings with city, state and federal agencies.
5. The Secretary shall notify members of regular and special meetings in a timely manner as prescribed by these bylaws. Supplemental notifications shall also be provided via electronic media (e-mail, website) the newsletter, and posted notices at the dog park.
6. The Secretary shall allow the inspection and copying of records as defined in Article IX, Records and Reports
D. Treasurer
1. The Treasurer shall keep and maintain adequate and accurate books of accounts of the properties and transactions.
2. The Treasurer shall receive, collect, and deposit all funds or other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Association.
3. The Treasurer shall prepare and present a written financial report appropriate for each annual and quarterly members’ meetings; and for each monthly Executive Board meeting. Financial reports, as a minimum, shall include:
a) The monthly and year-to-date income, expenses, and account balance;
b) Specific project income, expense, and project/account balance.
4. The Treasurer shall keep a current Book of Members Records, containing members’ names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and fax numbers. The Treasurer shall keep all members’ records confidential, and shall only release members’ information after receiving individual/specific members’ approval, or as required by public law.
5. The Treasurer, with the President, shall sign all checks. In the Treasurer’s absence, the President shall sign all checks along with the Vice President.
6. The Treasurer shall allow the inspection and copying of financial reports as defined in Article IX, Records and Reports.
7. The Treasurer shall maintain an adequate set of financial books/records, recognized as accepted accounting practices, in order to satisfy applicable state and federal reporting and audit requirements.
8. The Treasurer shall submit financial books/records for independent review before each annual member’s meeting and before the filing of financial reports with state and federal agencies.
9. The Treasurer shall provide the association a bond with the surety or securities specified by the board, for faithful performance of his / her duties and for restoration to the association of all its books, money and other property upon their death, resignation or removal from office. The Association will purchase this bond.
E. Publicity Chairman
Article VIII. Permits, Insurance, and Waivers
The Association shall obtain permits and purchase liability insurance necessary to conduct events/activities.
Article IX. Records and Reports
The Association shall prepare and deliver annual and periodic reports required by state and federal law. Such reports/filings shall be reviewed and approved by the Executive Board prior to submittal.
Article X. Amendments
A. Without approval by the voting members, the Executive board may not:
1. Adopt, amend, or repeal any bylaw that would materially or adversely affect members
2. Change voting rights, quorum, or majority requirements
3. Fix or change the number or qualifications of board members or officers or the election procedures.
4. Change the amount of annual dues
B. New bylaws may be adopted, or these bylaws amended, only with advance notification to the members; and the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members.
Article XI. Dissolution
A. The property of this Association is irrevocable dedicated to charitable purposes and no part of the net income or assets shall ever benefit any director, officers, or member thereof, or be used for the benefit of any private person. Upon the dissolution, its assets remaining after payment or provision for payment of all debts and liabilities of this association, shall be distributed to Grand Prairie Animal Services.
B. Reasons for dissolution include, but are not limited to:
1. A vote by the general membership to dissolve,
2. Failure to meet state and federal requirements for a non-profit public benefit tax exempt.
3. Failure to secure a working agreement with the City of Grand Prairie
CERTIFICATION OF THE SECRETARY
I certify that I am the duly elected and acting Secretary of Paws Pals of Grand Prairie. I further certify that the above Bylaws, consisting of seven (7) pages, are the Bylaws as adopted by its executive board and members on Thursday, February 3, 2005, and that they have not been amended or modified since that date.
Executed on February 3, 2005 at Grand Prairie, Texas
__________________________________
Dawn Cummings
Secretary,
Paw Pals of Grand Prairie
