By-Laws Keep Meetings Running Smoothly

from Terry Smith

Even though it is not mandatory, I strongly believe in each mobile/manufactured home community chapter having a set of bylaws, and each board member having a copy of the bylaws. By having the chapter bylaws in writing, it will help prevent confusion within the chapter and in the community as to the chapter’s operation in the community.

The chapter bylaws example that follows is easy to tailor to your chapter’s needs.  It is very important to set times and dates for your board meetings and for your membership meetings (Article 111 meetings). It is very important to have a method of amending bylaws (Article 1V amendment to bylaws). It is very important to have board officers’ and board members’ duties and terms of office in writing (Article V duties of officers).

 A chapter needs a plan of operating (bylaws) to become successful and to remain successful and all members need to follow that plan of operation.

 Sample Chapter By-Laws (Optional)

 Chapter By-Laws

MANUFACTURED HOUSING/OREGON STATE TENANTS ASSOCIATION

 

ARTICLE 1---ORGANIZATION

Sec. 1   The name of this organization will be:_________________________

                                           (name of park and assigned chapter number)

Of the Manufactured Housing/Oregon State Tenants Association (MH/OSTA)

 

ARTICLE 11---PURPOSE

Sec. 1   The purpose of this chapter of MH/OSTA is to advance the interests and protect the investments of the residents of this community, to engage in any activity the membership of this chapter deems necessary under the guidelines set forth by the state organization, and to represent the members of this chapter at State and District meetings.

ARTICLE 111---MEETINGS

Sec. 1   Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at times announced by the board at a location accessible to all Directors

General membership meetings shall be at times announced by the board and at a location accessible to all members. This shall be a business meeting for all members in good standing. Non members may be invited if desired.

Sec. 2   All members must be notified of meetings and those members attending shall constitute a quorum. At least two members of the executive board must be present to carry out business of the chapter.

Sec. 3   Special meetings may be called by any executive officer or by one third of the members if there is business that cannot wait until the next business meeting. Written notice must be posted at least two days in advance and there must be two officers present.

                                                   ARTICLE 1V---AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS

By-Laws may be amended, modified or replaced by a majority vote of the membership. Proposed amendments shall be announced at the meeting prior to the vote to allow the membership to become familiar with them.

                                                                                                                                                             
Newly formed MH/OSTA Chapters are encouraged to develop their by-laws within a 6 month period.
                                                                                                     

ARTICLE V---DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Sec.1   The executive committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer (Secretary / Treasurer may be combined into a single office if so determined). Term of office for officers shall be for one or two years, to be decided by the majority vote of the membership. Officers may, by nomination and majority vote of the membership, serve consecutive terms.

Term of office for a Board Member shall be for one or two years decided by the majority vote of the membership. Board members may, by nomination and majority vote of the membership serve consecutive terms.

If for any cause, an officer or board member should be asked to resign, he/she shall be allowed a hearing before the Board of Directors (Executive Committee if there is no Board of Directors) and dismissal or removal upon recommendations of the Executive Committee shall be by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors at the next regular board meeting. Removal of an officer or board member shall be for the remaining time left in their term.

Duties of the President: Arrange meetings of the chapter and conduct business according to the requirements of the state and chapter by-laws. Appoint committees as needed.

Duties of the Vice-President: Assist the president and conduct meetings in the absence of the president. Chair the nominating committee and membership committees.

Duties of the Secretary/Treasurer: Record the minutes of each meeting and preserve minutes and correspondence. Collect, bank and dispense chapter monies. Keep accurate reports of the business of the chapter.

 

[Note: These by-laws are a sample only.]

 

                                          

BOARD OF DIRECTOR APPLICATIONS

OSTA members who would like to be considered for a position as a director on the state board need to fill out an application and be interviewed at a monthly board meeting. The membership will be voting on directors at the state meeting on October 20. For an applicant to be considered for election this year, the application must be submitted as soon as possible and the interview conducted at the board meeting on September 12. Contact Jane Capron for an application.

MH/OSTA just received the following letter (greeting and name of park deleted) from members in a Salem-area Park. We want to share it so everyone will know that our District Directors do whatever they can to help people who own their homes but rent the land under them.  We hope all you Polk and Marion County members will support Marilyn, your director, by encouraging your neighbors to join OSTA.  We help OSTA as we help ourselves, and your directors are part of your team.

Dear _____,

Several months ago we contacted OSTA for some help with our park and were contacted by the current District Director, Marilyn Davis.  We met with Marilyn and Susan DeLateur early this year.  They gave generously of their time looking through our rental agreements, rules, and documentation of events here in the park and gave us guidelines to begin to work our way through the issues.  To be honest, we were all very angry, and our original intent in wanting OSTA in our park was in hopes of putting an end to what seemed to us to be a bit of bullying, retaliation actions, threats, being lied about, and so on.  Our attitude was ‘let’s get them’, believing somehow we could be vindicated and life here in the park would return to normalcy.  Life here in the park hasn’t returned to normalcy, but changes have happened.  They’ve happened in us.  Through the gentle, positive, upbeat way Marilyn has, we have been able to view the situation in a new way.   She has turned our ‘intent’ to one of bringing healing to our park by doing positive, good things.  The stress we seemed to carry everyday has been turned to excitement.  We are looking forward to offering some fun, uplifting events to the park that will lift the spirits of all, with great anticipation.  Who woulda thought! 

Your decision to choose Marilyn Davis as your new District Director was a wise one.  It’s hard to find words to express our gratitude for her patience as we worked through our anger, discouragement and, at times, through our tears.  She waited for us, encouraging us, empathizing and accepting, working always to change our perspective, until she brought us to a place where we could see light.  The circumstances in the park haven’t changed, but we are no longer ‘under the circumstances’.  We have risen above them!  We have been empowered!  We are amazed!  You can’t purchase this with money.  You just need someone like Marilyn.  You should be proud to know she is out in communities representing OSTA in such a professional, helpful, life-changing manner. 

Sincerely,

Jan Hurst

Becky Strom

Donna Barley

Lori Dollarhide

Plans are now underway for the MH/OSTA annual meeting. Mark your calendar for October 20 at the newly remodeled Shadow Hills Country Club in Junction City. And start considering donations for the silent auction that day. We get many great bargains and the organization makes a little money on your wonderful baskets and other items.  

Judy Morton, OSTA board member and mh-osta blog administrator, is recovering from serious but successful surgery. We wish her a speedy recovery, both for her sake and for ours! Meanwhile Paula Chambers, our Call Log administrator from Central Point, will attempt to handle the posting of blogs.
                                                                                                          --from Jane Capron 6-26-12

Congratulations to the new owners of Vida Lea Mobile Home Park in Leaburg,

Congratulations to the new owners of Vida Lea Mobile Home Park in Leaburg, just up the river from Eugene. Residents of one ofour Lane County neighbor parks have bought their park and can now control their own destiny. Way to go!

2012 SUMMER REVIEW POSTED

Download the 2012 SUMMER OSTA REVIEW with the link on the left under MH-OSTA REVIEWS