THE BYLAWS

OF

THE VILLAGES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

OF THE VILLAGES OF LAKE/MARION/SUMTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article I:  Name and Mission           

Section 1.1  The name of this not-for-profit corporation is The Villages Homeowners Association, Inc. of The Villages of Lake/Marion/Sumter (hereafter “VHA”) organized under Chapter 617 of the Florida Statutes. 

Section 1.2   The mission of the VHA is to preserve and enhance the values of our homes and The Villages’ lifestyle.

 

Article II:  Governance

Section 2.1  These Bylaws shall be maintained by the VHA Board of Directors (hereafter “Board”) and changes thereto be approved by the VHA membership at the Annual Membership Meeting.

Section 2.2   In these Bylaws, the verb “shall” indicates a required action while the verb “may” indicates an optional action.

Section 2.3  The fiscal year shall be the calendar year beginning on January first.

 

Article III:  Membership 

Section 3.1   The Board shall determine types of memberships, membership dues, the length of renewable memberships, membership termination procedures, and circumstances under which membership may be revoked.

Section 3.2   General Membership Meetings.  Meetings of the VHA membership shall be at least two times per year.   Notice shall be provided to the membership by posting in official VHA media such as the The Villages Voice and/or the VHA website.  Of these meetings one shall be the Annual Membership Meeting.

Section 3.3  Annual Membership Meeting.  The annual meeting of the VHA membership shall be held in December.  The purpose of this meeting shall be to elect Directors-at-Large whose offices are open for election and transact such other business as may be brought before it.  Notice of time and place of the annual meeting shall be given to all members by posting notice in official VHA media such as the VHA website and/or The Villages Voice not less than ten days before the date of the meeting.

Section 3.4  Special Membership Meetings.  Special meetings of the membership may be called by a majority Board vote or by petition of fifteen percent of the membership.  The purpose of the special meeting shall be stated in the notice or petition and may only include purposes which are lawful and proper for the membership to consider.  Notice of a special meeting stating date, time, place and purpose for which the meeting is being called shall be delivered to each affected member no less than ten days before the date of the meeting.  Such notice is deemed to have been delivered by posting in official VHA media.

Section 3.5  Quorum.  Members present at membership meetings shall constitute a quorum and a majority vote shall rule on all matters.                                                                                         Section 3.6  Conduct of Meetings.  All meetings shall be conducted as stated in these By-Laws and following the current provisions of Robert’s Rules of Order.

 

Article IV:  VHA Officers

Section 4.1  The Officers of the VHA shall be the President, the Executive Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. 

Section 4.2  The President and Executive Vice President shall be elected by the Board when election is required by term limits.

Section 4.3  The Secretary and Treasurer shall be appointed by the President and they are voting Board members with the same responsibilities and privileges as Directors at Large.

Section 4.4  Election process, terms of office, duties, removal and vacancy procedures are as determined by the Board.

Section 4.5  Any member who is an elected Supervisor of a Villages Community Development District (CDD) Board cannot be elected as the VHA President or Executive Vice President.

 

 

 

Article V:  Board of Directors

Section 5.1.  Authority.  The Board shall act in accordance with the VHA’s Articles of Incorporation and these By-laws in its duty as the governing body of the VHA.

Section 5.2.  Composition.  The Board shall be composed of the Vice Presidents of North, Central, and South Regions, Regional Directors, Directors-at-Large whose number shall be determined by the Board, and appointed Directors.

Section 5.3.  Qualifications.  To be eligible to serve on the Board, a person must be a VHA Regular Member in good standing, and must not be an employee or agent of the Developer’s Corporation, or any of its subsidiaries or related entities, or of the Villages Community Development Districts staff.

Section 5.4.  Functions.  The Board shall determine the Board members’ terms in office, election requirements, frequency of meetings, and voting procedures.

 

Article VI:  VHA Regions

Section 6.1  The Board shall create any number of VHA Regions, each typically consistent with a Villages Numbered CDD, including the Lady Lake/Lake County area of The Villages, to represent the specific needs of the VHA’s members in all geographic areas.

Section 6.2  The Regions are consolidated into North, Central, and South Regions.  The leadership of such consolidated Regions shall be VHA Vice Presidents each of whom shall be voting members of the Board of Directors.

Section 6.3  The Board shall determine the terms of office of the Vice Presidents and the Regional Directors.

 

 

Article VII:  Neighborhood Representatives

Section 7.1  The Board shall assist the Regional Directors in promoting and maintaining a robust Neighborhood Representatives Program. 

Section 7.2  Recognizing the importance of the Neighborhood Representatives Program, the goal is to have a Representative assigned and active for every Village and Villa neighborhood. 

Section 7.3.  Training and involvement of the Neighborhood Representatives shall be a priority task recognizing that the Representatives provide initial and continuing contact with VHA members, potential members, and Villagers in general. 

Section 7.4  The Board shall determine the required management and training of the Neighborhood Representatives.

 

Article VIII:  VHA Records

Section 8.1  Report to Members.  The President shall publish in official VHA media such as The Villages Voice or the VHA website the annual report of the VHA within three months after the end of the fiscal year.  This report shall include a summary of the activities and events of the prior year, Income and Expense information for the fiscal year as of the close of the previous fiscal year.

Section 8.2  Inspection of Records.  Any member in good standing may, upon request, examine the relevant VHA records.

Section 8.3  Audit.  A review of the VHA financial records shall be conducted by the Audit Committee within 90 days of the close of each fiscal year and on the occasion of the change in the Treasurer’s person.

 

 

 

Article IX:  Amendments

Section 9.1  Amendments to these Bylaws can be proposed by any member in good standing. 

Section 9.2  The draft amendment shall be submitted to the Board.  The Board shall place the proposed amendment on the agenda for the next Annual meeting, recommend a special meeting for the purpose of resolving the amendment, or reject the amendment due its inapplicability. 

Section 9.3  The proposer shall be kept informed of the progress of the proposed amendment at every stage.