BYLAWS AMENDED AND SIGNED 2024
Of Garden District Neighborhood Association (GDNA)
Article I. NAME
The name of the neighborhood association shall be Garden District, commonly known as Garden District Neighborhood Association (GDNA). It shall encompass the one square mile area bounded on the North by Grant Road, on the East by Swan Road, on the South by Speedway Boulevard, and on the West by Alvernon Way.
Article II. PURPOSE
This organization is established for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Garden District Neighborhood Association is established to maintain and improve the quality of life and safety of the neighborhood, facilitate a sense of community, assist neighbors with information and resources, and provide support for addressing neighborhood concerns. Projects shall include, but not be limited to:
Garden District Neighborhood Association shall not discriminate against nor support any organization that discriminates against any classification of persons. Garden District is a diverse community of residents welcoming all backgrounds, faiths, and cultures.
Article III. MEMBERSHIP
1.0 A qualified Member of Garden District is:
1.1 Resident - A homeowner or tenant who is 18 years or older and whose primary residence is within the boundaries of Garden District. Each qualified resident of a household is entitled to one vote.
1.2 Business / Corporate - Each Business Owner or Statutory Agent of a corporation within the boundaries of Garden District is entitled to one vote per business or corporation. Owners of multiple rental units are entitled to one vote.
1.3 Proof of residency, property ownership, or business ownership/statutory agent is required to vote in the annual election, on bylaws, hold office, and may be required upon other occasions. Members will receive advance notice when proof is required.
2.0 No dues are charged to Members at this time.
Article IV. OFFICERS
1.0 The Officers of Garden District Neighborhood Association (GDNA) shall be Members and reside in Garden District as a homeowner or tenant. (Article III, 1.0) They must qualify to hold office on the Board by demonstrating motivation to support GDNA’s purpose, mission, and goals as stated in these Bylaws. They shall demonstrate this through previous active engagement and commitment to the neighborhood through participation in meetings, volunteering, social activities, and community events. Examples include, but are not limited to, attending GDNA meetings, volunteering at events and clean ups, attending neighborhood special events, organizing a Neighborhood Watch, etc.
2.0 An officer shall hold office for a term of one year. If they resign, become unable to complete their duties, or are removed from office for cause, a replacement officer shall be appointed by the President. Cause for resignation may include no longer meeting the officer qualifications as noted in Article IV,1.0. An officer can be removed for cause by a two-thirds majority (2/3) vote of Members at a scheduled Membership meeting.
3.0 The Officers of the Garden District Board of Directors shall maintain and uphold the
purpose of the organization (Article II) and be comprised of: President, Vice
President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The duties of the Officers shall be as follows:
President: The President presides as the chair at Board and Membership
meetings. They shall act for and on behalf of the Membership and deal with the
day-to-day business of the association. They shall act as official spokesperson
for the Association to outside persons and other organizations. The President will
be one of two signers for the Association bank/credit union account.
Vice President: The Vice President shall share in the day-to-day Association
business, as delegated by the President. In the absence of the President, they
shall assume all of the duties and prerogatives of the President.
Secretary: The Secretary shall give prior written notice and keep a record of all
Membership meetings, social events, and volunteer opportunities. They will be
responsible for maintaining the neighborhood website and electronic newsletter
and will provide information to be distributed to the Membership. With input from
the other Board Members, the Secretary will also create and submit the mailings paid for by the City of Tucson for mailing to the addresses in Garden District. They will retain records of meeting attendance. They will submit approved Bylaw amendments and documentation to the City of Tucson and the Arizona Corporation Commission as required.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and accept donations, validate all
receipts presented for payment; and disburse money as authorized by the Board.
They will retain receipts, maintain accurate financial records; present an up-to-
date financial report at each Board meeting, and prepare a yearly report for both
the Arizona Corporation Commission and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They
shall meet all requirements of the Corporation Commission for managing funds
and maintaining Garden District’s 501(c)(3) status. They will be one of two signers on Garden District’s bank/credit union account. Financial records will be
retained per IRS guidelines.
Article V COMMITTEES
Article VI MEETINGS
a quorum. Voting shall be by simple majority unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws. Neither Proxy nor Absentee ballots shall be valid for voting.
5.0 The Officers of the Board of Directors shall meet when requested to do so by any
Member of the Association Board.
6.0 All meetings shall be open to any interested persons.
Article VII NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
1.0 Officer nominees for election must be Members, be 18 years of age or older. and reside in Garden District as homeowners or tenants (Article IV, 1.0). Nomination of Officers will begin approximately 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting and prior notification about the nomination process will be made to the Membership. A Member may submit nominations in writing or through an email to the President. An acceptance by the person being nominated must be received by the President prior to the nomination being accepted by the Board.
2.0 Election of Officers shall be held at the Annual Membership Meeting in February.
4.0 Neither Proxy nor Absentee ballots shall be accepted.
5.0 In order to vote in the Annual Election, Members must have evidence that they reside within the Neighborhood Association boundaries (provide property address, valid photo identification, or some other means of identifying they live within the boundaries of Garden District, such as utility or credit card bill). Business Owners and/or Statutory Agents must present proof that the business they own, operate, or represent is within the boundaries of Garden District.
6.0 Any Member may act as an election teller at the meeting to count ballots, as long as they are not an officer nominee.
Article VIII FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
2.0 Proposals for funding expenditures shall be accepted from the floor at any
meeting and shall be made by a Member. A majority vote of Members in
attendance at the meeting is required to move the proposal forward. Proposals
voted upon by the Membership in attendance will next be reviewed at a separate
meeting by the Board and evaluated against such criteria as:
meeting the Association’s Purpose (Article II), feasibility, and affordability. At this
point, the Garden District Board will vote on the proposal.
Article IX AMENDMENT AND BYLAWS
Article X GENERAL
Article XI RATIFICATION
The original neighborhood association (Midtown Neighborhood Association) was formed on 08/14/1997. Original Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were ratified on that date. A ratified amendment dated 9/19/2008 was made changing the Association’s name to Garden District. These amended GDNA Bylaws are hereby ratified on January 30, 2024 by the signatures of the current officers.
Of Garden District Neighborhood Association (GDNA)
Article I. NAME
The name of the neighborhood association shall be Garden District, commonly known as Garden District Neighborhood Association (GDNA). It shall encompass the one square mile area bounded on the North by Grant Road, on the East by Swan Road, on the South by Speedway Boulevard, and on the West by Alvernon Way.
Article II. PURPOSE
This organization is established for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Garden District Neighborhood Association is established to maintain and improve the quality of life and safety of the neighborhood, facilitate a sense of community, assist neighbors with information and resources, and provide support for addressing neighborhood concerns. Projects shall include, but not be limited to:
- Submitting proposals for government and private grants to enhance the neighborhood,
- Preservation of, enhancement of, and cooperation with the Tucson Botanical Gardens,
- Preservation of, enhancement of, and cooperation with the Martha Cooper Library, and
- Preservation of, enhancement of, and cooperation with Wright Elementary School.
Garden District Neighborhood Association shall not discriminate against nor support any organization that discriminates against any classification of persons. Garden District is a diverse community of residents welcoming all backgrounds, faiths, and cultures.
Article III. MEMBERSHIP
1.0 A qualified Member of Garden District is:
1.1 Resident - A homeowner or tenant who is 18 years or older and whose primary residence is within the boundaries of Garden District. Each qualified resident of a household is entitled to one vote.
1.2 Business / Corporate - Each Business Owner or Statutory Agent of a corporation within the boundaries of Garden District is entitled to one vote per business or corporation. Owners of multiple rental units are entitled to one vote.
1.3 Proof of residency, property ownership, or business ownership/statutory agent is required to vote in the annual election, on bylaws, hold office, and may be required upon other occasions. Members will receive advance notice when proof is required.
2.0 No dues are charged to Members at this time.
Article IV. OFFICERS
1.0 The Officers of Garden District Neighborhood Association (GDNA) shall be Members and reside in Garden District as a homeowner or tenant. (Article III, 1.0) They must qualify to hold office on the Board by demonstrating motivation to support GDNA’s purpose, mission, and goals as stated in these Bylaws. They shall demonstrate this through previous active engagement and commitment to the neighborhood through participation in meetings, volunteering, social activities, and community events. Examples include, but are not limited to, attending GDNA meetings, volunteering at events and clean ups, attending neighborhood special events, organizing a Neighborhood Watch, etc.
2.0 An officer shall hold office for a term of one year. If they resign, become unable to complete their duties, or are removed from office for cause, a replacement officer shall be appointed by the President. Cause for resignation may include no longer meeting the officer qualifications as noted in Article IV,1.0. An officer can be removed for cause by a two-thirds majority (2/3) vote of Members at a scheduled Membership meeting.
3.0 The Officers of the Garden District Board of Directors shall maintain and uphold the
purpose of the organization (Article II) and be comprised of: President, Vice
President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The duties of the Officers shall be as follows:
President: The President presides as the chair at Board and Membership
meetings. They shall act for and on behalf of the Membership and deal with the
day-to-day business of the association. They shall act as official spokesperson
for the Association to outside persons and other organizations. The President will
be one of two signers for the Association bank/credit union account.
Vice President: The Vice President shall share in the day-to-day Association
business, as delegated by the President. In the absence of the President, they
shall assume all of the duties and prerogatives of the President.
Secretary: The Secretary shall give prior written notice and keep a record of all
Membership meetings, social events, and volunteer opportunities. They will be
responsible for maintaining the neighborhood website and electronic newsletter
and will provide information to be distributed to the Membership. With input from
the other Board Members, the Secretary will also create and submit the mailings paid for by the City of Tucson for mailing to the addresses in Garden District. They will retain records of meeting attendance. They will submit approved Bylaw amendments and documentation to the City of Tucson and the Arizona Corporation Commission as required.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and accept donations, validate all
receipts presented for payment; and disburse money as authorized by the Board.
They will retain receipts, maintain accurate financial records; present an up-to-
date financial report at each Board meeting, and prepare a yearly report for both
the Arizona Corporation Commission and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They
shall meet all requirements of the Corporation Commission for managing funds
and maintaining Garden District’s 501(c)(3) status. They will be one of two signers on Garden District’s bank/credit union account. Financial records will be
retained per IRS guidelines.
Article V COMMITTEES
- The President shall have the power to appoint committees as necessary to implement the Purpose of the Association (Article II).
- The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Article VI MEETINGS
- The Association Annual Membership meeting shall be held in February. At this meeting, the Garden District Board of Officers will be elected by the qualified Members in attendance. If the Annual Meeting cannot be held during February, the meeting shall be held as close to that date as possible.
- Meetings may be called at other times of the year as deemed necessary by the Board to conduct the business of the Association and to support the Association’s purpose and goals.
- A minimum of seven days’ notice shall be provided by the Secretary in advance of Association meetings. The Association will distribute information and announce the times and locations of meetings through such vehicles as: emailed newsletters, neighborhood kiosks, website, and the City of Tucson financed mailings.
- All meetings shall be open to any interested persons, but only Members in
a quorum. Voting shall be by simple majority unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws. Neither Proxy nor Absentee ballots shall be valid for voting.
5.0 The Officers of the Board of Directors shall meet when requested to do so by any
Member of the Association Board.
6.0 All meetings shall be open to any interested persons.
Article VII NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
1.0 Officer nominees for election must be Members, be 18 years of age or older. and reside in Garden District as homeowners or tenants (Article IV, 1.0). Nomination of Officers will begin approximately 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting and prior notification about the nomination process will be made to the Membership. A Member may submit nominations in writing or through an email to the President. An acceptance by the person being nominated must be received by the President prior to the nomination being accepted by the Board.
2.0 Election of Officers shall be held at the Annual Membership Meeting in February.
- Only Members (Article III) may vote in the election of Officers.
4.0 Neither Proxy nor Absentee ballots shall be accepted.
5.0 In order to vote in the Annual Election, Members must have evidence that they reside within the Neighborhood Association boundaries (provide property address, valid photo identification, or some other means of identifying they live within the boundaries of Garden District, such as utility or credit card bill). Business Owners and/or Statutory Agents must present proof that the business they own, operate, or represent is within the boundaries of Garden District.
6.0 Any Member may act as an election teller at the meeting to count ballots, as long as they are not an officer nominee.
- All records of the Officers are the property of the Garden District Neighborhood Association. Newly elected Officers will have all documents, records, GDNA bank/credit union account, and any materials pertaining to the duties of the office given to them by the outgoing Officers within fourteen (14) days of the election.
Article VIII FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Financial Records of the Association shall be available for auditing purposes as
2.0 Proposals for funding expenditures shall be accepted from the floor at any
meeting and shall be made by a Member. A majority vote of Members in
attendance at the meeting is required to move the proposal forward. Proposals
voted upon by the Membership in attendance will next be reviewed at a separate
meeting by the Board and evaluated against such criteria as:
meeting the Association’s Purpose (Article II), feasibility, and affordability. At this
point, the Garden District Board will vote on the proposal.
Article IX AMENDMENT AND BYLAWS
- The Association Board will propose amendments to the Bylaws. A simple majority of the Membership at a regularly scheduled meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose are required to approve the amended Bylaws.
- Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be presented to all Officers and the Membership at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting where action is to be taken.
Article X GENERAL
- No Officer, Member, or spokesperson shall have any financial responsibility for the Association.
- Liability of Board for Debts. The private property of the Officers of the Board shall
Article XI RATIFICATION
The original neighborhood association (Midtown Neighborhood Association) was formed on 08/14/1997. Original Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were ratified on that date. A ratified amendment dated 9/19/2008 was made changing the Association’s name to Garden District. These amended GDNA Bylaws are hereby ratified on January 30, 2024 by the signatures of the current officers.
