About Us
Overland Park Neighborhood Association
OPNA is the Registered Neighborhood Association for Overland Park. We have continuously advocated for the all Overland Park residents, workers and property owners since 1979. Boundaries Our boundary references are South Platte River Drive West; Lincoln Avenue; Mississippi Avenue and Yale Avenue. Districts Overland Park is in Denver City Council District 7 and Denver Police Department District 3. (also see Neighborhood Resources) 2023 Current Executive Officers Jenn Greiving, Co-President Jack Unruh, Co-President Ronnie Crawford, Vice President Rebecca Greek, Secretary Bryan Ferrer, Treasurer Bylaws We are a State of Colorado not-for-profit corporation (though not a 501c3). Our bylaws are continuously revisited to better focus our services and we welcome your suggestions. |
The Overland Park Neighborhood Association (OPNA) BylawsThese OPNA By-laws were originally adopted at the July 28, 2005 monthly OPNA meeting and most recently amended at the March 23, 2023 meeting. A PDF copy is available at this link: Boundaries The Overland neighborhood extends from Mississippi Ave. on the north to Yale Ave. on the south; from Lincoln Avenue on the East to the Platte River on the west; Overland Neighborhood Association, a non-profit service organization, was founded in 1979. It now exists to promote responsible development and improved quality of life for residents and businesses within the above bounds; also included as members are residents and owners of homes and businesses along the opposite sides of the bounding streets and river. Purpose and Vision: OPNA exists
Compassionate Neighborhood On February 27, 2014, OPNA Board adopted the resolution to declare itself a Compassionate Neighborhood (copy available on request) Vision / Mission To build a network for self-organizing groups to connect, collaborate, and take action to awaken compassion in our children, ourselves, and our neighborhood. Implementation People with shared interests create groups and self-organize around different expressions of compassionate action. Founding Commitments
Structure OPNA membership consists of all residents, property owners, business owners and employees working within its boundaries. Its voting membership consists of its elected officers and paid-up members. These By-laws, as adopted and amended on an ongoing basis, define OPNA's organization. The four customary minimal officeholders as defined below are mandatory. The intent of the By-laws also suggests developing additional structure in the form of active committees and recommends constant refinement by amendment to meet new challenges and opportunities. Meetings, Elections, Membership and Voting OPNA Executive Board members meet on the fourth Thursday of each month, January through October (November and December excepted due to holidays), at a pre-designated location. All meetings are open to members and the public, and attendance is passionately encouraged. Each member has a voice in the meetings where ethical and honorable conduct is to be expected. The March and October meetings are general membership meetings dedicated to reviewing long range issues and electing officers: annual elections are held in October. Candidates for office must declare and attend at least one meeting prior to elections to explain positions and qualifications. Executive Board vacancies may be filled for the term balance at any meeting by vote of the remaining Board and attending members. Ideal terms of office are three years and Executive Board members are encouraged to step aside if qualified successors are present: there are no term limits except by election challenge. Simple majority rules in all OPNA votes. Voting may occur on any issue at any meeting: only paid members may vote. Dues are $10 annually for residents or property owners, $25 annually for businesses (promotion of the business through OPNA included), payable in January or upon joining (there is no pro-rating of dues). In order to be eligible to vote at a meeting, a member shall have paid in full all membership dues at least 30 days prior to the date of that meeting. For any votes required during the January meeting, members who paid dues during the previous calendar year will be considered eligible to vote. Officers and Other Board Members Officers must be members and Overland residents or Overland property owners actively working in the area. The OPNA Executive Board consists of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Board is distinguished from other Board members (see Permanent Chairs below) only by the need to define a minimum operating structure for the organization: all member votes are equal. A person serving in a non-Executive role such as those suggested below can request that the role become a board position by membership vote at the March or October meeting. These other Board positions (Chairs) offer opportunities to serve as representatives of focus areas within Overland and in response to ongoing issues. Chairs must remain active to retain their position and it is suggested that non-Executive Board Chairs be kept to no more than nine. Executive Board members may hold additional chairs of committees when they are vacant, but recruitment of dedicated Chairpersons is encouraged to better serve the neighborhood. The Board shall have the power to authorize expenditures up to $250.00 per month for a single purpose on its own. Notification of a proposed expenditure of more than $250.00 for a single purpose shall be given to the general membership via email communication prior to the monthly meeting. At the next monthly meeting, the expenditure may be authorized by a majority vote of the general membership present either in-person or via online attendance. An emergency expenditure of more than $250.00 for a single purpose may be made by the Board and reported to the general membership at the next monthly meeting, however, the Board must be prepared to offer justification for the emergency nature of the expense. The Board may exercise the emergency expenditure option no more than 3 times per calendar year. Treasurer Is responsible for monitoring the OPNA treasury and issuing reports as needed; is responsible for maintaining the membership list; is responsible for tax reporting and incorporation under applicable jurisdictions (as if, for example, the membership voted to seek 501C3 status). Secretary Is responsible for recording meeting minutes and maintaining all records, including amendments to these By-laws, and for registration with the City and County of Denver and Colorado Secretary of State (OPNA is a Colorado non-profit organization). Vice President Shares all responsibilities of President and serves in President's absence, with special emphasis on OPNA's members and internal communications about meetings and issues President Has primary responsibility for chairing meetings, representing OPNA at relevant meetings of neighborhood leaders, remaining current with and communicating an overview of all OPNA issues concerning Overland Park Neighborhood; special emphasis is on external communication with City agencies and other citizen organizations, etc. Permanent Chairs It is recommended that ONA volunteers chair committees addressing ongoing issues; primary examples of such issues are • Membership, Participation and Activism, • Development, Zoning and Land Use, • Safety, Health, and Environment (addressing contamination, noise, traffic, public health, etc.), • Communication (through mailings, newsletters, phone list/trees, web sites and e-mail, faxes, media events, signs, etc.), • Services, Assistance and Education for Overland residents, and • Four Area Representatives (the neighborhood is quartered by Evans Ave. and Santa Fe Dr.) Proactive Initiative Proactive initiative is what makes OPNA work. Informal ad hoc teams for specific projects (which may be supported by appropriate permanent committees) are always encouraged and deserve agenda time and vocal acknowledgement, as do efforts by individuals, organizations, and elected officials who further Overland as a community. |