Establishing your Organization

Organizing a neighborhood association can foster a sense of community, improve local safety, and enhance the overall quality of life in your area. Here are key steps to get started:

Check if your neighborhood already has an Association
Engage with neighbors
Connect with broader community, including faith and labor leaders
Assemble a planning committee
Ensure that your neighborhood is fair, inclusive and equitable
Register your organization with your NPU and the City
- It is important to register in order to receive recognition from your NPU
- Contact City Planning for any necessary support

Does a neighborhood organization exist in your community?
Ensure that EVERYONE is included and are a reflection of your neighborhood!

Key Items

Resources

Register your neighborhood organization here
Existing neighborhood organizations

A mission statement serves as the foundation of your neighborhood association. It conveys the purpose, values, and goals of the organization and should be no more than 1-2 sentences.

Here are a few steps to get you started:

Gather Stakeholder Input
- Include residents, local business owners, and community leaders
Identify core values such as inclusion and diversity
Develop a shared vision for your neighborhood's place in Atlanta
Draft a mission statement that accurately reflects the core values, goals and vision that will guide the organization

Example: "The Grove Park Neighborhood Association (GPNA) stands as a beacon of community unity and advocacy in Atlanta's vibrant Westside. Re-established in 2015 to represent our community residents, GPNA brings a unified voice to the issues affecting our neighborhood. We create forums for engagement with businesses, community leaders, and elected officials, fostering open dialogue and collaboration".

Resources

Bylaws are essential for the structure and governance of a neighborhood association. They serve as a guiding document that outlines the association’s purpose, membership requirements, leadership structure, and operational procedures. Here's a guide to help you draft effective bylaws for your neighborhood association:

Work collaboratively to draft organizational bylaws
Outline membership criteria
Specify roles, responsibilities and descriptions of board of directors positions
Establish meeting frequency and notice requirements
Identify voting procedures, proxy voting and how decisions are made
Create an amendment process
Identify standing committees
Include a inclusion and equity policy in order to include all neighborhood members
Include a conflict of interest policy to promote fairness and transparency
Bring proposed bylaws to vote at Neighborhood Association meeting

Click here for Sample Bylaws!

Resources

See Sample Bylaws in Appendix
Sample Bylaws (Legal Aid Society)
Creating Effective Job Descriptions

Elections ensure that leadership is representative and accountable. Establish clear and fair processes to maintain trust and engagement within the community.

Define the nomination process
Set eligibility criteria for candidates and voters
Create an election timeline
Establish campaign rules
Decide on the voting method (see resource below)
Design clear and accessible ballots
Form an independent election committee
Specify vote counting process
Identify dispute resolution processes
Determine announcement procedures for results

Resources

Five Essential Parts of Community Associations Elections

An effective agenda is crucial for a productive neighborhood association meeting. It ensures that the meeting stays focused, covers all necessary topics, and respects everyone’s time. It is important that agendas are set and disseminated ahead of the meeting date in order to ensure members are informed ahead of time. Below is a guide to creating meeting agendas:

Define meeting objectives
Consult with board members and stakeholders
Prioritize agenda items by importance and urgency
Allocate time for each agenda item
Include reports and regular updates
Reserve time for new business
Distribute the agenda at least a week before the meeting

Click below for a sample agenda

Resources

7 reasons why an effective meeting agenda is important