ARTICLE I

1. The Resident Council of Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads (GHBC) shall consist of fourteen (14) persons elected by the community of residents. The Executive Director of GHBC will be an ex officio non-voting member of the Council.
2. The purposes of the Resident Council are:
1. To represent the interests of residents in relations with management and the Board of Trustees;
2. To maintain open channels of communication between management and residents;
3. To receive and act upon suggestions, questions and observations from residents;
4. To promote the health, comfort, security and social well-being of residents;
5. To cultivate a spirit of cooperation and enjoyment among residents through encouraging their participation in GHBC activities, governance and cultural interests.

ARTICLE II

1. Members of the Council shall be elected as follows:

a. Thirteen Representatives will be chosen at-large by vote of residents. Any resident with the approval of the nominee may make nominations. Names of all nominees shall be placed on a ballot provided to all residents, who may vote for the same number of nominees as there are vacancies. Nominees who receive the largest number of total votes cast including absentee and proxy ballots shall be declared elected. If the winner cannot be determined for the final council vacancy because of a tie vote, a runoff election shall be promptly conducted for that vacancy. If the number of nominees is the same as the number of vacancies, the nominees shall be declared elected.

b. One representative from Assisted Living will be chosen by a vote of assisted living residents. The nomination and election process will be essentially the same as stated above.

c. The Council will issue instructions concerning nomination and election procedures in the Bylaws.

2. The term of office for all members of the Council shall be two years with one-half the members elected each year. Members of the Council may serve a second consecutive two-year term, but are not eligible for a subsequent term unless at least one year has elapsed after serving the second term. In case of a vacancy for any reason, the Council Chair, with the approval of the Council, will appoint a resident to fill the remainder of the term. If a Council member serves more than one year of a term, his or her service shall count as a full term toward the two-term limitation.
3. Elections of Council members shall take place annually within a period specified by the outgoing Council. The new Council shall take office January 1 and serve for one year.
4. Prior to the new Council taking office, the outgoing council and the newly-elected Council members shall meet jointly.  At the joint meeting, the members of the outgoing Council who will transition to the new Council and the newly elected members of council shall elect from among their members a Chair and a Vice Chair, who with the new Council shall take office January 1.
5. The Chair of the Council shall appoint a Secretary of the Council, who shall prepare the minutes of all Council meetings and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chair or the Council.

ARTICLE III

1. The Council shall meet at least monthly, and more frequently if called by the Chair or requested by a majority of the members. A copy of its minutes shall be available in published form to all residents. The Chair or Vice Chair of the Council shall preside at meetings of the Council and of residents and minutes will be taken at meetings.
2. Semi-annual Meetings of all residents shall be convened each spring and fall. The Executive Director will be invited to present a review of the past six months of GHBCoperations and a look toward the future.  The Chair of the Board of Trustees and the President/CEO of Goodwin House Inc. shall also be invited to report to residents on corporate operations, plans and policies.  

ARTICLE IV

The Council shall promulgate Bylaws providing for its own operating procedures, for nomination and election provisions supplementing the Charter, and for Committee Charters and procedures. The Council shall establish such Committees as it may from time to time determine to be desirable in the achievement of its objectives. The Chair shall appoint Committee Chairs, subject to Council approval, who need not be members of the Council.

ARTICLE V

The Council shall submit proposed revisions or amendments of this Council Charter to residents for approval at a Community Meeting. The text of all changes shall be distributed to residents with explanatory materials ten days in advance to provide time for consideration. Ratification shall require an affirmative vote by two-thirds of all residents present and voting.

Amended Charter approved by GHBC Resident Community – 2 December 2019

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Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads Bylaws Of The Resident Council

A. COMMUNITY, COUNCIL, AND COMMITTEE OPERATING PROCEDURES, adopted July 18, 2022, HERE  

here