Each Neighborhood Association maintains an up-to-date set of bylaws with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement.   Bylaws typically provide procedures for electing boards of directors and officers, the structure of meetings including how meetings are run, agendas set and what is a quorum, delegation of officer duties and sub-committees, and how the bylaws are amended.

Additional Resources:

• ONI Neighborhood Association Bylaws Template:  [NOT AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW--BEING UPDATED]  The previously available ONI bylaws template is out of date. ONI and the neighborhood coalition directors are working together to update the bylaws template to reflect current interpretations of the ONI Standards and the Oregon State Non-profit Corporation Law (ORS 65), and non-profit organization best practices. We hope to have the new template available by Fall 2013.

• Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Handbook:  The Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Handbook, 5th Ed, 2012,  by  Cynthia Cumfer and Kay Sohl, is a great resource. "Chapter 4--Writing Bylaws"  describes the common elements included in most bylaws. Be sure to look at the section, "Bylaws for Membership Corporations,"  that starts on p. 70. The Handbook also includes a sample of "Bylaws of a Membership Corporation" in the "Forms" section at the back of the book. (Copies of the Handbook are available at each neighborhood coalition office and at the ONI office in City Hall.)

For more information:  If you have questions or need more information about neighborhood association bylaws, contact your neighborhood coalition office, or Paul Leistner at ONI, 503-823-5284, paul.leistner@portlandoregon.gov.