North Preston Area Watch (NPAW)

Bruceton Mills, West Virginia

February 26, 2009

B Y L A W S

ARTICLE I – Name, Slogan, and Motto

Section A. The name of the organization shall be known as North Preston Area Watch (NPAW). The organization was founded by Robert G. Walsh,Jr. and co-founded by Tony TalericoonJanuary 18, 2007.

Section B. Its Slogan shall be: TheEyes and Ears of Law Enforcement.

Section C. Its Motto shall be: We Watch Out for Each Other.

ARTICLE II – Purposes and Objectives

North Preston Area Watch is an organization of concerned citizens ofPreston County, West Virginia working together as good neighbors to reduce crime in our neighborhoods and to serve as the eyes and ears of law enforcement. The organization shall maintain a compatible working relationship between itsmembers and the law enforcement officers of the Preston County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police and allother law enforcement officers.

ARTICLE III – Membership

Section A. Active Member: (a) Any person of legal age and good moral character and good reputation in his community may be eligible for membership in the Organization ofNorth Preston Area Watch;

(b) a member shall be a resident within the NPAW geographical boundaries as set forth on the map provided by The Preston County Sheriff’s Department (map attached); (c) members shall follow “The Crime Watch Volunteer Rules of Conduct”. (Refer to ARTICLE XI); and (d) for voting privileges, a member shall attend six (6) meetings within a calendar year.

Section B. Honorary Member: AllPrestonCounty Elected Officials.

ARTICLE IV – Fees and Dues

No fees or dues are assessed. Funds for operational expenses will be accepted from contributions and/or donations.

ARTICLE V -Officers

Section A. The officers of this organization shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary/Web Master and Treasurer.

Section B. No person shall be eligible to hold office in this organization unless he is a member in good standing.

Section C. No person shall receive any compensation for any service rendered to this organization in his official capacity.

Section D: Duties

(1) President: He shall be the chief Executive Officer. The President shall preside over all meetings of this organization, including the meetings of the Board of Directors; appoint the Standing and Special Committees of this organization and cooperate with the chairperson to effect regular functions and reporting of such committees; he shall see that regular elections are duly called, noticed and held. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

(2) Vice-President: Ifthe President is unable to perform the duties of his office for any reason, the Vice-President shall occupy his position and perform his duties with the same authority as the President.

(3) Secretary: The Secretary shall keep written minutes of each meeting and present them to the Web Master for permanent record keeping on the NPAW Webpage.

(4) Treasurer: He shall: (a) receive all monies, from the Secretary or otherwise, and deposit the same in a bank approved by the President;

(b) Pay out monies for any vouchers received for such items as printing material, CrimeWatch Signs, or other necessary operational expenses;

(c) Have custody of,keep and maintain general records of receipts and disbursements.

(5) Zone Captains: (a) There shall be one Captain from each of five Zones situated within the boundaries of North Preston Area Watch as indicated on the NPAW map provided by the Sheriff’s Department of Preston County (See attached map); (b) Each Captain represents residents in their respective zone; (c) they shall be responsible for informing the officers and Web Master of suspicious activity occurring in their zone.

(6) Parliamentarian: He shall determine that all orders or procedures with respect to any meeting or action of this organization are in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

(7) Web Master: (a) Shall publish information on North Preston Area Watch Web Page, including information on meeting times and dates and other issues of interest;(b) in cooperation with the Preston County Sheriff’s Department, reports criminal activity or attempted crimes which have occurred in the NPAW area; (c) and publish a quarterly newsletter.

(8) Director-Coordinator: He shall oversee and serve in an advisory capacity and assist the President with regular scheduled meetings and special meetings. He shall assist the President so that regular elections are duly called and held. The Director-Coordinator shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Section E: All officers shall attend each meeting, unless demanding personal or health issues arise.

ARTICLE VI – Board of Directors

Section A. The Members of the Board of Directors shall be thePresident, Immediate Past President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Web Master, one Zone Captain from each of five (5) Zones and the Director-Coordinator.

Section B: Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held monthly at such time and place as the Board shall determine.

Section C: Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held when called by the President, or when requested by five (5) or more members of the Board of Directors, at such time and place as the President shall determine or agreed to by the members.

ARTICLE VII–Nomination and Election of Officers

The officers of this organization, excluding the Immediate Past President, shall be elected as follows:

Section A. The officers will accept nominations at the regular meeting held in October. The committee shall submit the names of candidates for President, Vice-President, Secretary/Web Master, and Treasurer to the club at the nominating and electionmeeting.

Section B. The nomination and election of officers shall be held at the regular meeting held in December of each year. At this meeting, nominations for all offices to be filled for the succeeding year may also be made from the floor.

Section C. Election of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer will be heldat the regular December meetingby ballot voting.

The elections of said officers shall be decided by a majority vote of thosepresent who are qualified to vote.

Officers will serve for one calendar year, beginning January l to December 31. Officers are eligible to serve three consecutive years.

Section D. The Parliamentarian and Zone Captains will be appointed by the Board of Directors at the December meeting.

Section E: To be eligible to serve as an elected officer, a member shall attendeight (8)meetings within the calendar year.

Section F. A Sign-in sheet will be provided at each meeting for each member’s signature to verify their attendance.

ARTICLE VIII – Meetings

Section A. There will be eleven meetings held per year. A regular meeting will be held on the 4th Thursday of each month, from January through October. Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays, a combined November-December meeting will be held on the first Thursday inDecember. Should any other meeting date fall on a legal Holiday, that meeting will be held the following Thursday. The meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 PM. There will be a Board of Directors meeting held at 6:00PM prior to each regular meeting. Any member is eligible to attend and may present any issues of concern at that time for consideration.

Section B. Special meetings may be held by the Board of Directors should there be a matter which needs attention prior to the scheduled monthly meeting.

Section C: It is intended that a Speaker will be engaged for each meeting. The speaker should be an individual who can inform NPAW members of safety measures to be taken to help to protect their families and neighbors from harm.

ARTICLE IX -Agenda for each meeting:

1. Opening Prayer

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Introduction of Guests

4. Announcements

5. Reading of Minutes

6. Treasurer’s Report

7. Old Business

8. New Business

9. Program (Guest Speaker)

10. Next Meeting. Date and Place

11. Adjournment

ARTICLE X – Parliamentary Practices

Each meeting will be conducted by following the Guidelines as set forth by Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised Edition.

ARTICLE XI—Crime Watch Volunteer Rules of Conduct

  1. You are a citizen volunteer. It is illegal to represent yourself as a police officer.

2. Confrontation, questioning, and detainmentare

police functions and must be left to sworn police officers.

  1. As a citizen volunteer, you are encouraged to greet the public and

talk with them in a friendly and helpful way. Help them if they

need assistance and explain your role as a volunteer. You are

encouraged to pass on crime prevention information.

  1. If you or others are at risk, back away from the situation and summon police.
  1. Stay in public view while on patrol. This ensures you will not be at risk in situations where someone could cause you harm.
  1. Avoid inappropriate gestures, comments, and conversations.
  1. Your job, as a volunteer, is to observe and communicate. You are providing an invaluable service in the Preston County Sheriff’s

Office, State Police and your community.

  1. NO WEAPONS OF ANY KIND will be carried while on patrol. This also applies to persons who may have a concealed weapon permit from the Preston County Sheriff’s Office.
  1. No drugs or alcohol may be consumed prior to and during patrol.

10. Volunteers will not at any time chase, pursue or apprehend anyone.

11. Volunteers will not interfere in the actions of police officers.

  1. Volunteers will not intervene in civil matters.

13. Volunteers will obey all instructions, orders or commands given

to them by a Preston County Sheriff Officer while participating

in the program.

14. Vary your patrol routes. Talk with people. Show an interest in

your community.

15. Always be aware of where you are and what is going on around

you.

16. Record all helpful information and turn over to police.

  1. If you come in contact with victims or witnesses, notify police

and stay with them until a police officer arrives.

  1. If you observe a crime in progress, or one which has been

committed , notify law enforcement by calling 911.

ARTICLE XII – Amendments

No change to these Bylaws may be made unless it is brought before the membership and approved by voting on such an Amendment to theseBylaws of the North Preston Area Watch. Amendments will be considered at the Business Meeting to be held at the October meeting of each year.

ARTICLE XIII – Political Candidates

This organization will not endorse or recommend any candidate for public office.

ARTICLE XIV: Relating to the Director-Coordinator

Proviso: The Director-Coordinator position shall be terminated at the time it becomes vacant, after which time all references to the Director-Coordinator shall automatically be dropped from the bylaws.

The Bylaws of North Preston Area Watch (NPAW) was approved and adopted at a meeting held on February 26, 2009.

(Date) (Date)

Susan Fearer, Secretary/Web Master Barbara J. Walsh, Treasurer

This document prepared by

Barbara J. Walsh

Treasurer, NPAW

February 26, 2009

AMENDMENT

At the regular meeting held on October 22, 2009, a motion was made by Jeanie Walsh to revise Article 7, Section E of our Bylaws to reduce the attendance requirement in order to hold office from 8 meetings to 5 meetings. The motion was put to a vote and passed unanimously.

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