Bylaws
Your bylaws form the backbone of your association. Think of them as the constitution for your organization. That’s why it is critical to know what is in your bylaws and modify them to stay up-to-date with your association’s needs and changes in the industry.
NAR provides a set of model bylaws that you can use to build your local association bylaws. Some of these sections, such as jurisdiction and dissolution, are required to be adopted as written. But many of these provide a fork in the road that requires you to choose the best fit for your association. You can find additional resources regarding bylaws here.
The PAR bylaws and NAR constitution and bylaws are also here for your reference.
Association Policies
If the bylaws are the constitution for your association, your policies are your laws. Your policy manual is the document that explains how the organization will carry out the requirements of the bylaws and function on a daily basis.
These policies often include information about how the association’s finances will be managed, the way the operations of the association’s building will work and the rules that staff and members will follow while conducting business. Often times, they will indicate the ways in which the officers of the association will work with the Association Executive to conduct the business of the association.
These are PAR’s Member Policy Manual, Whistleblower Policy, and Conflict of Interest Policy.
Meeting Resources
Here are some common resources that local associations use for their meetings and events:
At the Leadership Advancement Conference, Hank Lerner shared a Robert's Rules Cheat Sheet that may be useful.
Dues Billing and Membership
Dues billing is one of the most time-consuming and, at times, nuanced aspects of managing a local association. Local associations are required to follow the NAR dues policy. NAR has compiled a dues enforcement kit, which gives you the tools and information you need to carry out this policy, including delinquency letters and other pre-written tools to help you navigate the dues billing process with your members in each office.
Many members ask: How are my NAR dollars spent?
Associations are required to transfer the dues collected on behalf of the national and state associations to NAR and PAR via NAR’s ecommerce system. PAR has created a Dues Remittance Sheet to allow you to do the math before making each electronic transfer.
Dollars collected for RPAC by local associations will need to be sent to PAR by check along with a completed RPAC excel template.
Each local association is required to keep its membership records up-to-date in NRDS. Here are some NRDS Tips and Tricks to help you navigate the system.