On November 12th, the Montavilla Neighborhood Association (MNA) held its annual election, adding two new board members and reelecting Louise Hoff for another two-year term. The membership also voted to update language in the group’s bylaws to remove membership term limits and mail notification requirements for shorter annual meeting notices, along with other minor updates. Due to an access issue, the in-person meeting was relocated from its planned location to Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street.
New board members Steph Cleary and Colleen Howard received unanimous approval from 21 ballots, as did the write-in incumbent Louise Hoff. Cleary is a freelance writer and is a former high school English teacher. She will take on the Secretary board position, freeing former Secretary Spencer Knowles to take the newly renamed leadership position of board President. Howard has lived in Montavilla for 40 years and is a retired nurse. She wants to use her sense of strong community involvement to keep Montavilla a “great place for everyone.” Hoff, a former board chair, will continue to lead the Parks committee for the neighborhood. Sarah Hartzel will continue in the Treasurer position, and Laura Mulligan will remain in the second leadership position with its new designation as board Vice President. Hartzel will continue to serve as the Neighborhood Coalition Delegate until another board member takes on that role and the SE Uplift board accepts their nomination from the MNA.
Neighborhood Coalition Executive Director for SE Uplift, Nanci Champlin, oversaw the election and provided the posted notice of the venue change at the Montavilla United Methodist Church. Montavilla Brew Works opened its covered outdoor seating for the MNA members and turned on their heater, quickly warming the space during the rainy night. A few members purchased pints to support the business offering last-minute meeting accommodations.
Prior to the elections, Spencer Knowles presented the proposed bylaws updates. The bylaws remained unchanged since its last review in 2015, and community concern over membership eligibility requirements expressed during the 2023 board elections prompted a reevaluation. All but two members voting by raised hands approved the bylaws edits. In the changes, the MNA determines eligibility by an adult person’s primary residence, rented or owned, existing in the Montavilla boundary. Owners of property or a business are allowed membership. Alternatively, one representative from a business or organization within the neighborhood can join on that group’s behalf. The updates also removed the three-year term limit on membership, allowing people to retain members until they are no longer eligible. Neighborhood youths 14 to 17 can become members with parental permission, and anyone can still request membership exceptions from the board to join.
The bylaws no longer require an Election Committee to manage elections, shifting that responsibility to the board. Updates to the board officers listed in the bylaws now use the term “President” instead of “Chair” and added Neighborhood Coalition Delegate to the list of officers. In other new language, the bylaws retain the required seven-day member notices of an upcoming Annual Meeting but no longer need that notice to happen by Postal mail if not presented within 30 to 60 days by communication in another form. People can review all updates that include minor word changes in the proposed bylaws document.
Although the annual election is the most efficient way for people to join the MNA board, processes allow mid-term board appointments. People wanting to serve should contact the MNA to learn more. Perpetual free general membership is now as simple as attending a meeting and affirming that you meet the requirements and want to join. The MNA recommends people subscribe to the non-profit’s email newsletter to stay up to date. More information is available at montavilla.org.
Disclosure: the author of this article served as MNA Board Chair until 2023
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