2026 Proposed Bylaws Changes

Members of BMCA have long recognized the need for updates to our Association bylaws, In 2025, BMCA President Chris Tighe appointed a committee to evaluate and propose changes to improve and modernize the bylaws. The committee – Maura Bashant, Lee Dioso, Tony Ermovick, and Marybeth Fraser – developed proposed changes and presented them to the BMCA Board of Directors. After discussion, the Board approved the committee’s recommendations.

Following is a summary of the recommended changes. Here, you can view the existing bylaws document with the proposed changes indicated in redline format.

Summary of Proposed Amendments to the BMCA Constitution and Bylaws

Clarifications and Corrections

  • Corrected typographical errors and formatting issues.
  • Clarified geographic boundaries of the Association and removed redundancies.
  • Standardized terminology (e.g., “Association,” “Board,” “Members,” “Officers,” “Regular Meetings,” “Special Meetings”).

Purposes of the Association

  • Articulated roles related to Arlington County representation, neighborhood improvements, and social activities.
    Membership and Dues
  • Updated and clarified dues structure, including minimum dues amounts and the Board’s authority to adjust dues annually.

Officers and Board of Directors

  • Added transparency requirements, including posting meeting minutes and approved budgets on the BMCA website.
  • Clarified auditing of the Treasurer’s records.
  • Clarified Board composition and participation of committee chairs and civic federation delegates.
    Revised term limits in recognition of challenges in identifying new volunteers to serve as BMCA officers and Board members:
    • President and Vice President are limited to three consecutive terms from two
    • Directors’ consecutive terms are changed from two to three.
    • Treasurer and Secretary have no term limits.
  • Added hand vote for Officers and Directors at Regular Association Meeting

Meetings and Notices

  • Updated the definition of “Written Notice” to include modern communication methods (website, email, social media) and reduced the number of required methods.
  • Adjusted the number of required Regular Board Meetings to from 4 to 3 per year.
  • Explicitly authorized electronic communication and voting for Board matters.
  • Revised quorum requirements for Board meetings from 7 members to 5.

Order of Business

  • Reorganized and clarified the standard order of business for meetings.
  • Added guidance to schedule guest speakers earlier in meetings.

Voting

  • Expanded permissible voting methods to include written ballot.

Committees

  • Clarified the President’s authority, in consultation with the Board, to appoint Standing Committee and Special Committee members
  • Authorized the Board to create or dissolve Standing Committees as needed.

Administrative Updates

  • Added a placeholder for the 2026 amendment date.