BYLAWS

1. Name 

The name of the League shall be "Laurel Community League". Laurel Community League is referred to hereinafter as "Laurel Community League" or “LCL” or the "Organization". 

2. Bylaws 

These are the general Bylaws of Laurel Community League and replace all previous Bylaws. 

3. Boundaries 

The Laurel neighbourhood is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The boundaries of the Laurel Community League are 23 Avenue on the north, 34th Street on the west, 17th Street on the east, and Anthony Henday Drive on the south. 

4, Membership 

4.1 Any resident within the stated boundaries may be a full member upon submission of the registration form and payment of the appropriate membership fee provided he/she agrees to abide by the Bylaws of LCL. The following types of memberships will be for sale:

4.1.1 Family: A family will consist of up to two adults and all of their children living in the same household, provided they are 18 years of age and under or are a student 22 years of age and under.

4.1.2 Single: For an individual of any age.

4.1.3 Senior: For individuals 65 years of age and older.

4.2 Membership fees will be reviewed each year at the Annual General Meeting and determined by the members of LCL.

4.3 Each membership term will be from September 1 to August 31 of each year.

4.4 The membership of LCL is entitled to a maximum of two votes per household at general meetings (Annual and Special) and to attend Board of Directors meetings.

4.5  Discontinuation of Membership

4.5.1 Discontinuation by Member - Membership may be terminated by the Member submitting a request in writing to the Board of Directors that his/her Membership be discontinued. 

4.5.2 Discontinuation by Non-payment of Membership Fee - Any member who has failed to pay their membership fee will have their membership discontinued.

4.5.3 Discontinuation by Relocation - Any member who no longer resides within the boundaries of the LCL will have their membership discontinued.

4.6 Disciplinary Hearing and Termination

4.6.1 The Board of Directors is empowered to expel any member from membership, or a Board member from office, for any conduct deemed injurious to LCL or its purposes. This decision will be final.

4.6.2 Pending a full and proper hearing, such member or Director will be placed on suspension.

5.6.3 The Board of Directors will hold a hearing where the member or Director, upon being given 14 days’ notice in writing, has the opportunity to attend and present his or her case. At the conclusion of the hearing a majority vote will prevail. If the individual fails to attend the hearing without excuse, the termination will be effective immediately and without further recourse.

4.6.3 Quorum for such a hearing will be two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors.

4.6.5 The Board of Directors will debate the matter in private and render a decision in writing within 72 hours.  

4.6.6 A Member of LCL may be a Member Not in Good Standing if that Member  has intentionally acted to harm the organization, as determined by the Board of Directors. Members Not in Good Standing are not entitled to vote at general meetings (Annual and Special) or to attend Board of Directors meetings. 

4.7 Expulsion of a Member

4.7.1 A Member of Laurel Community League may be Expelled from the Membership of the organization by a vote of seventy-five percent or more (≥75%) of the Board of Directors. 

4.7.2 Members of Laurel Community League who are being considered for Expulsion are entitled to notice forty-eight (48) hours before the vote by the Board of Directors, an opportunity to defend themselves before the Board of Directors immediately prior to the scheduled vote and notice on the result of the vote within forty-eight (48) hours of the vote. 

4.7.3 Expulsions from the Membership of the organization are effective immediately upon the completion of the vote to expel. 

4.7.4 Members who have been Expelled from the organization are entitled to an Appeal, wherein a Special General Meeting shall be called and the status of the Expelled Member shall be confirmed or overturned by a vote of two-thirds (⅔) or more of the Membership present at the Special General Meeting. Members are only eligible to vote on the expulsion of another Member if they were a registered Member of the organization at the time of the incident which resulted in expulsion. 

Governance

5.1. Board of Directors

5.1.1 Laurel Community League shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of not less than six (6) and not more than twelve (12) Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Past President, Membership Director, Programs Director, Neighbourhood Watch Director, Volunteer Director, Communications Director, Infrastructure Director, Fundraising Director

5.1.2 The Board of Directors shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Laurel Community League by the voting members. In order to be elected to the Board of Directors, a candidate must be a member of the Laurel Community League and must receive the support of a simple majority of those present at the Annual General Meeting. 

5.1.3 A Director elected at the Annual General Meeting shall assume office on the 1st day of July following the election. 

5.1.4 The Board may appoint additional Directors, provided that the number of Directors does not exceed twelve (12). Any such appointment must have the support of two-thirds (3) of the existing Directors on the Board. Any Director who is appointed by the Board must have his or her appointment ratified at the next general meeting of Laurel Community League. A person so appointed assumes office immediately upon appointment; term limits are subject to clause 6.1.5. 

5.1.5 The term of office of a Director shall be a maximum of two (2) years from the date that he or she assumes office. A member who has served three (3) consecutive terms as a Director must remain off the Board of Directors for a period of one (1) year before seeking re-election to the Board. All outgoing Board members will be asked to provide mentorship on the role to incoming Board members.  

5.1.6 A Director may resign from the Board by submitting a letter of resignation. The resignation is deemed to be effective thirty (30) calendar days after the letter of resignation is received by the Secretary of the Board or immediately if requested in the letter. 

5.1.7 A Director shall be deemed to have resigned from the Board if he/she misses three (3) Board of Directors meetings per AGM-to-AGM period without explanation. Such a person may be reinstated to the Board by a resolution with the support of the Board (subject to clause 6.1.4). 

5.1.8 Directors may be removed from office in the case of unsatisfactory performance and/or inappropriate behaviour. 

5.1.8.1 A Director may be removed from the Board by a motion with a unanimous vote in favour of removal.

5.1.8.2 A Director may be removed from the Board by a petition for removal signed by fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the registered Membership. Should a registered Member wish to petition for the removal of a Director, they are required to notify the Board of Directors in writing. The Board of Directors is required to send written notice of the petition to all registered members within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving the notification. The petitioning member shall be in charge of collecting signatures for the petition, and has sixty (60) calendar days from the date that the Membership is notified of the petition to submit the petition to the Board of Directors. If fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the Membership has signed the petition, the Director shall be removed from the Board of Directors, effective upon receipt of the petition. 

5.1.9 The Board of Directors shall meet once per calendar month at least ten (10) times per year. Notice of a meeting shall be given to Directors a minimum of seven (7) clear days before the meeting, unless all Directors agree to abridge the notice period. 

5.1.10 Quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be the fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the number of board members. 

5.1.11 The Board of Directors may determine the rules of order which shall govern its meetings. 

5.1.12 Directors may only abstain from casting a vote on a motion if they declare the legitimate conflict of interest that prevents them from voting. In cases where Directors abstain from casting a vote on a motion, their abstinence should be noted by the Secretary. Abstaining Directors count toward quorum for a meeting, but do not count toward the percentage of support for or against a motion. 

5.1.13 Emergency powers of the Board of Directors: 

5.1.13.1 An emergency situation is defined as a situation that meets the following criteria: 

5.1.13.1.1 The situation requires Board intervention to be resolved, 

5.1.13.1.2 The situation requires intervention before the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors to prevent negative impact on the organization, 

5.1.13.1.3 It is not possible to schedule an emergency meeting of the Board that can be attended by a quorum of Board members. 

5.1.13.2 In the case of an emergency situation, the President is required to oversee the emergency decision-making process. The President is required to: 

5.1.13.2.1 Attempt to contact each Director until the Director is contacted, or until the President has unsuccessfully attempted to contact the Director through a minimum of two (2) methods of communication, 

5.1.13.2.2 Propose a Board action that will resolve the emergency situation, 

5.1.13.2.3 Take a vote of the contacted Directors on the action proposed in 5.1.13.2.2. The President is empowered to implement the action if all successfully contacted Directors vote in favour of the action (unanimous). Votes may be counted over email, so long as the President has made contact with the voting Director. 

5.1.13.2.4 If the successfully contacted Directors do not unanimously support a course of action by the time that Board action is required, the President must act on behalf of the Board and be accountable for those decisions. 

5.1.13.3 All actions taken by the Board in emergency situations must be ratified at the next scheduled board meeting. 

5.1.14 Directors shall not receive any remuneration for their work on Laurel Community League's Board of Directors.