Bylaws
Code of Regulations (Bylaws) for the Trabue Woods Subdivision Homeowners Association, Inc.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.01. The name of this Ohio, nonprofit corporation shall be Trabue Woods Subdivision Homeowner’s Association, Inc. (the “Association”)
Section 1.02. The purposes for which the corporation is formed are generally, to serve as a “homeowner’s association’ as that term is defined in Section 528 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as now in effect and as may be amended from time to time (the “code”) and to that end to hold title to, or easements over, land currently within the Trabue Woods Subdivision, and all other property at any time added to the Trabue Woods Subdivision and made subject to any of the following restrictions or this Association, for common purposes, including but not limited to detention areas and/or landscape entry areas, to maintain and administer such land and common areas in accordance with the plats of Trabue Woods Subdivision, in Plat Book 83, at page 60, Plate Book 84, at page 10, Plate Book 85, at page 33, Plate Book 85, at page 36, all restrictions of record for Trabue Woods Subdivision, in Official Records Volume 30918, at page B-10. Official Records Volume 30918, at page B-18 Official Records Volume 31650 at page E-19, Official Records Volume 31650 at page F-08, Official Records Volume 31919, at page G-18, Official Records Volume 31919, at page H-07, Official Records Volume 32939, at page J-03, (the “Restrictions”) and any other plats, amendment or restrictions of record which make property subject to these restrictions, or the Association, including property which may be added in the future, with all references being to the records of the Recorder of Franklin County, Ohio.
In carrying out the foregoing purposes, the corporation may purchase, lease, exchange, acquire, own, hold, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, borrow money upon, sell and otherwise deal in and with real and personal property of every kind, character and description whatsoever and all estates and interests therein, and otherwise may engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be formed under Chapter 1702 of the Revised Code of Ohio. The foregoing purpose shall be accomplished on a nonprofit basis, and no part of the net earnings of the corporation shall ensure to the benefit of any private person, firm, corporation, association or organization, except that the corporation may pay reasonable compensation for services provided to or for the benefit of the corporation.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERS AND VOTING
Section 2.01. Each owner of a fee simple interest in a lot in the Development shall be member of the Association (hereinafter a “member”). The membership of each owner shall terminate when the owner ceases to own an undivided fee simple interest in a lot, and upon the sale, transfer or other disposition of each undivided fee simple interest in a lot membership in the Association which is appurtenant to that interest shall automatically be transferred to the new owner(s) of the interest. No member may otherwise terminate his membership in the Association or sever that membership interest.
Section 2.02. Except as provided herein, on any question for which the vote of members is permitted or required, the owner or owners of each lot in the Development shall be entitled to exercise one vote for each such lot that he or she owns or they own. If two or more persons own undivided interest in a dwelling lot as fiduciaries, tenants in common or otherwise, such persons shall only be entitled to one vote with respect to the lot, which vote shall be exercised, if at all, as a single unit and not by percentages of interest.
Notwithstanding anything herein the contrary, Borror Corporation and any joint venture or joint venturer (or its or their successor), the developer (“Developer”) of the Development, shall be entitled to exercise one hundred percent (100%) of the total voting power of the members of the Association on each matter properly submitted to the members for their vote, consent, waiver, release or action until such time as the Developer elects to relinquish the voting right, which relinquishment shall take place not later than the date that the developer ceases to own the fee simple title to at least one of the lots in the Development. At such time as Developer elects to relinquish the voting right, each lot shall be entitled to one vote on each matter properly submitted to the members for their vote, consent, waiver, release or other action. In addition to the indemnification provided hereunder, Developer, including Trustees appointed by and employed by the Developer, shall have no liability and shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Association for events occurring after the relinquishment of voting control. Assessments shall be paid by each member when due without regard to the right of a member to vote.
Section 2.03. Fiduciaries and minors who are owners of record of a lot or lots may vote their respective interests as members. If two or more persons own undivided interest in a dwelling as fiduciaries, tenants in common or otherwise, such persons shall be entitled to one vote with respect to a lot, which vote shall be exercised, if at all, as a single unit and not by percentages of interest. If more than one of such owners attends a meeting, acts in voting by mail or executing consents, a majority of those voting may act for the owners of the lot. If only one such person attends a meeting, votes or executes a consent then that person may act for all.
Section 2.04. A corporation which is a member of the Association may exercise its right to vote by any officer, and any such officer shall conclusively be deemed to have authority to vote and to execute any proxies and written waivers and consents relative thereto, unless, before a vote is taken or a consent or waiver is acted upon, it shall be made to appear by certified copy of the regulations or bylaws or of a resolution adopted by the board of directors or board of trustees of said corporation that such authority does not exist or is vested in some other officer or person. A partnership which is a member of the Association may exercise its right to vote only by a partner or agent thereof specifically designated in a written documented executed by all partners of the partnership and delivered to the secretary of the Association before a vote is taken or a consent or waiver is acted upon.
Section 2.05. At meetings of the members or otherwise, any member entitled to vote or take action may be represented and may vote or take action by a proxy or proxies appointed by an instrument in writing. Each such instrument shall be filed with the secretary of the meeting before the person holding the proxy shall be allowed to vote there under at the meeting with the Secretary of the Association before the person holding the proxy may take action there under without a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from its date of execution unless the member executing it shall have specified therein the length of time that it is to continue in effect.
ARTICLE III
MEETING OF MEMBERS
Section 3.01 After the relinquishment of control of the Association by the Developer, an annual meeting of the voting members for the election of trustees, for the consideration of reports to be made at the meeting, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held on the last Monday in March of each year, or on such another date within one month thereafter as may be designated by the Board of Trustees of the Association (the “Board of Trustees or the Board”) from time to time. No annual meetings shall be required or held prior or the Developers relinquishment of control of the Association.
Section 3.02 Special meetings of the members may be called by the President, by a majority of the Trustees acting with or without a meeting, or by member entitled to exercise not less than ten percent (10%) of the total voting power of the members. Upon delivery of a request in writing to the President or Secretary of the Association by persons to call such meeting, it shall be the duty of the President or Secretary to give notice to the members in accordance with the Code of Regulations, but if such request is refused, then the persons making the request may call a meeting by giving the notice.
Section 3.03 All meetings of members shall be held such places as may be specified by the Board of Trustees or persons calling the meeting.
Section 3.04 A written or printed notice of very meeting of members, whether annual or special, stating the time, place and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given by the President or the Secretary of the Association by personal delivery or by mail not more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the meeting to each member entitled to notice thereof. If mailed, such notice shall be addressed to the member at his address as it appears on the records of the Association. The Association shall have no obligation to perform research or investigations beyond its records to ascertain the identity or the address of any member. If a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, no further notice of the adjourned meeting need be given if the time and place to which it is adjourned are fixed at announced at the meeting. In the event of a transfer of ownership of a lot after notice has been given and prior to the holding of the meeting, it shall not be necessary to service notice on the transferee. The Board of Trustees may set a record date for the determination of the members who are entitled to receive notice of or vote at a meeting of members, which record date shall not be earlier that forty-five (45) days preceding the meeting. If not record date is fixed therefore, the records date for determining the members who are entitled to receive notice of or who are entitled to vote at a meeting of members shall be the business day next preceding the day on which notice was given or the meeting is held, as the case may be. In any case, where a person’s pr entity’s right to vote is questions or disputed, the person wishing to vote shall have the burden of proving his or her right to vote.
Section 3.05 Notice of the time, place and purpose or purposes of any meeting of members may be waived in writing either before or after the holding of the meeting by any member, which writing shall be filed with or entered upon the records of the meeting. The attendance of a member at any meeting in person or by proxy without protesting the lack or proper notice to or at the commencement of the meeting shall be deemed to be a waiver by that member of the notice of the meeting.
Section 3.06 A quorum for any meeting if members shall be that number of members who are entitled to vote who are present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting and except as hereinafter provided, all actions shall be taken upon the majority vote of all members present, in person or by proxy, provided that no action required by law, the Restrictions, the Articles, or this Code of Regulations that must be authorized or taken by those members exercising not less than a designated percentage of the total voting power may be authorized or taken by a lesser percentage. Those members entitled to vote who are present in person on represented by proxy at a meeting from time to time and at an adjourned meeting any business may be transacted as if the meeting had been held as originally called.
Section 3.07 The Order of Business of any meeting of members, shall be determined by the presiding officer, unless otherwise determined by a vote of those members entitled to exercise not less than a majority of the voting power of the members present in person, or by proxy at the meeting.
Section 3.08 At all elections of members of the Board of Trustees, the candidates receiving the greatest percentage of the votes cast shall be elected. All other questions shall be determined by the vote of those members entitled to exercise not less than a majority of the voting power of the members present in person and represented by proxy at a meeting, unless for any particular purpose the vote of a greater percentage of the voting power of all the members is required by law, the Articles, this Code of Regulations or otherwise.
Section 3.09 Any action which may be authorized or taken at a meeting of the members may be authorized or taken without a meeting ion a writing or writings signed by all the members exercising a majority of the voting power of all members or such a greater proportion thereof as the Articles, this Code of Regulations, the deed restrictions of any provision of the law may otherwise require. Said writing or writings shall be filed with or entered upon the records of the Association. Any vote, which may be taken at a meeting of the members, may also be conducted by mail. In that event, ballots may be mailed to all persons and entities who are members of the Association at the time of the mailing and approval shall be required from a majority of the voting power of all members or from such a greater (or lesser, in the case of electing members of the Board of Trustees) proportion thereof as the Articles, this Code of Regulations, the deed restrictions or any provision any laws may otherwise require. Adequate records of the manner and results of each vote conducted by mail shall also be filed with or entered upon the records of the Association.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 4.01 Subject to such limitations as have been or may hereafter be imposed by the restrictions, the Articles or this Code of Regulations, as any of the same may be lawfully amended from time to time, all power and authority of the Association shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Trustees consisting of three (3) persons. Said persons shall manage and conduct business and affairs of the Association and exercise the powers and duties established by the restrictions, the Articles, and this Code of Regulations until they resign or until their successors are elected and qualified. Members of the Board of Trustees need not be members of the Association. Before the relinquishment of control of the Association by the Developer, the Developer shall appoint all Trustees. Subsequent to the relinquishment of control of the Association by the Developer, Trustees shall be elected at the regular annual meeting of members of the Association or at special meetings called for that purpose, beginning with the first meeting conducted upon the relinquishment of control of the Association by the Developer. Beginning with the first annual meeting following the Developer’s relinquishment of control, each Trustee who is elected shall serve for a term of one (1) year and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she resigns. Any Trustee may be removed at a special meeting of the members of the Association called for that purpose by the affirmative vote of those members entitled to exercise not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all members.
Section 4.02. Candidates for election as Trustees may be selected by a Nominating Committee formed in accordance with Section 5.05 of Article V hereof. Candidates may also be nominated from the floor of any meeting held for the purpose of electing a Trustee or Trustees. The Nominating Committee may nominate as many candidates as it wishes, provided that it shall nominate not less than the number of Trustees to be elected.
Section 4.03. If any member of the Board vacates membership on the Board as a result of death, resignation, or any other act or reason, the remaining members thereof may elect a new Trustee to fill the vacancy. If the remaining Trustees cannot agree upon a person to fill the vacancy within thirty (30) days after it is created, said remaining Trustees shall call a special meeting of members of the Association to fill the vacancy, such meeting to be held within sixty (60) days after the vacancy is created. Any Trustee appointed or elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term of the Trustee he succeeds and until his successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she resigns.
Section 4.04. The Board of Trustees shall hold such meetings from time to time as it deems necessary and such meetings as may be called by the President from time to time. However, following the relinquishment of control of the Association by the Developer, the Board shall meet no less than once in each calendar quarter. Meeting shall be held at such places as the President or a majority of the Trustees may determine, or by a joint telephone connection if so requested by the President or a majority of the Trustees.
Section 4.05. The President or Secretary shall cause telegraphic or written notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Board of Trustees, regular and special, to be duly served upon or sent to each Trustee not less than two (2) nor more than twenty (20) days before the meeting, except that a regular meeting of the Board may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of the members of the Association at the same place as the annual meeting was held for the purpose of electing or appointing officers for the ensuing year and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before said meeting. No notice of adjourned meetings need be given. Notice of the time and place of any meeting of the Board may be waived by any Trustee in writing either before or after the holding of the meeting, which writing shall be filed with or entered upon the records of the meeting. The attendance of any Trustee at any Board meeting without protesting the lack of proper notice prior to or at the commencement of the meeting shall be deemed to be a waiver by him of notice of the meeting.
Section 4.06. At all meetings of the Board of Trustees a majority of the members thereof shall constitute a quorum, but less than a quorum may adjourn a meeting from time to time, and at adjourned meetings any business may be transacted if the meeting had been held as originally called. The act of a majority of the Trustees present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as otherwise required by law, the restrictions, the Articles, or this Code of Regulations.
Section 4.07. Members of the Board of Trustees shall not receive any compensation for their services as such, but any Trustee may serve the Association in any other capacity and may receive compensation therefor, subject to the requirements and limitations of Article Seventh of the Articles.
Section 4.08. Any action which may be authorized or taken at a meeting of the Board of Trustees may be authorized or taken without a meeting in a writing or writings signed by all of the Trustees, which writing or writings shall be filed with or entered upon the records of the Association.
Section 4.09. The Board of Trustees may employ or engage the services of a manager or managing agent and such other persons, firms, or corporations as it deems necessary or advisable in order to perform the duties imposed upon it and may pay such compensation as it determines. The Board may delegate to any such manager, managing agent, person, firm or corporation such administrative or ministerial duties as it determines.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Section 5.01. The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as may be elected. All officers shall be elected by the Board of Trustees and the President must be a member of the Board. Officers need not be members of the Association and may be paid such compensation as the Board may determine. Officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board and any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 5.02. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of members of the Association and the Board of Trustees, to exercise general supervision over the affairs of the Association and in general to perform all duties incident to the office or which may be required by the members or the Board. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to perform the duties of the President in the event of his absence or disability and such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board.
Section 5.03. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep or cause to be kept under his supervision an accurate record of the acts and proceedings of the members The Secretary shall further perform all duties incident to the office and such other duties as may be required by the members of the Board. Upon the expiration or termination of his term of office, the Secretary shall deliver all books, records, documents and other property of the Association in his possession or control to his successor or to the President.
Section 5.04. The Treasurer shall receive and safely keep all money, securities and other intangible property belonging to the Association, or evidence thereof, and shall disburse the same under the direction of the Board of Trustees, shall keep or cause to be kept under his supervision correct and complete books and records showing the allocation, distribution, and collection of the assessments, fees, revenues and expenses among and from the members, shall hold the same open for inspection and examination by the Board and the members, and shall present abstracts of the same at annual meetings of the members or at any other meeting when requested; shall give bond in such sum with such surety or sureties as the Board may require for the faithful performance of his duties, shall perform any other duties which may be required of him by the members of the Board; and upon the expiration of termination of his term of office, shall deliver all money and other property of the Association in his possession or control to his successor or to the President.
Section 5.05. The Board of Trustees may create a committee or committees, each to be composed of not less than three (3) persons including at least one Board member, and may delegate to any such committee any of the authority and power of the Board, however derived. Each committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall be subject to the control and direction of the Board. Any committee may act pursuant to the vote of a majority of its members at a meeting of the committee or by writing or writings signed by all of its members. Any act or authorization by any such committee within the authority delegated to it shall be as effective for all purposes as the act or authorization of the Board. Each committee shall establish its own procedures for scheduling and giving notice of its meetings, establishing agendas, maintaining records of its meetings and actions and other administrative matters, subject to any such procedure which may be established for that committee or all committees by the Board.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.01. The Association shall indemnify any Officer or Trustee of the Association who was or is a party or is threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, without limitation, any action threatened or instituted by or in the right of the Association), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Trustee, Officer, employee, agent or volunteer of the Association, or is or was serving at the request of the Association as a director, trustee, officer, employee, agent or volunteer of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), limited liability company, partnership joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, filing fees, court reporters’ fees and transcript costs), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Association, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A person claiming indemnification under this Section 6.01 shall be presumed, in respect of any act or omission giving rise to such claim for indemnification, to have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonable believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Association, and with respect to any criminal matter, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, and the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not of itself, rebut such presumption.
Section 6.02. Anything contained in this Code of Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding:
(A) the Association shall not indemnify any Officer or Trustee of the Association who was a party to any completed action or suit instituted by or in the right of the Association to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Trustee, Officer, employee, agent or volunteer of the Association, or is or was serving at the request of the Association as a director, trustee, officer, employee, agent or volunteer of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in such action or suit as to which he or she shall have been adjudged to be liable for acting with reckless disregard for the best interests of the Association or misconduct (other than negligence) in the performance of his or her duty to the Association unless and only to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas of a county where all or any part of the development is located or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite such adjudication of liability and in view of all the circumstances of the case, he or she is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnity as such Court of Common Pleas or such other court shall deem proper; and
(B) the Association shall promptly make any such unpaid indemnification as is determined by a court to be proper as contemplated by this Section 6.02.
Section 6.03. Anything contained in this Code of Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that an Officer or Trustee of the Association has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 6.01, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be promptly indemnified by the Association against expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, filing fees, court reporters’ fees and transcript costs) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.
Section 6.04. Any indemnification required under Section 6.01 and not precluded under Section 6.02 shall be made by the Association only upon a determination that such indemnification of the Officer or Trustee is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 6.01. Such determination may be made only (A) by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Trustees of the Association who were not and are not parties to, or threatened with, any such action, suit or proceeding, or (B) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if a majority of a quorum of disinterested Trustees so directs, in a written opinion by independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having associated with it an attorney, who has been retained by or who has performed services for the Association, or any person to be indemnified, within the past five (5) years, or (C) by the members, or (D) by the Court of Common Pleas of a county where all or any part of the development is located or (if the Association is a party thereto) the court in which such action, suit or proceeding was brought, if any; and such determination may be made by a court under division (D) of this section 6.04 at any time (including, without limitation, any time before, during or after the time when any such determination may be requested of, be under consideration by or have been denied or disregarded by the disinterested Trustees under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) or by the members under division (C) of this Section 6.04); and no decision for any reason to make any such determination, and no decision for any reason to deny such determination, by the disinterested Trustees under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) or by the members under division (C) of this Section 6.04 shall be evidenced in rebuttal of the presumption recited in Section 6.01. Any determination made by the disinterested Trustees under division (A) or by independent legal counsel under division (B) or by the members under division (C) of this Section 6.04 to make indemnification in respect of any claim, issue or matter asserted in an action or suit threatened or brought by or in the right of the Association shall e promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought such action or suit, and within ten (10) days after receipt of such notification such person shall have the right to petition the Court of Common Pleas of a county where all or any part of the development is located or the court in which such action or suit was brought, if any, to review the reasonableness of such determination.
Section 6.05. Expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, filing fees, court reporters’ fees and transcript costs) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section6.01 shall be paid by the Association in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding to or on behalf of the Officer or Trustee promptly as such expenses are incurred by him or her, but only if such Officer or Trustee shall first agree, in writing, to repay all amounts so paid in respect of any claim, issue or other matter asserted in such action, suit or proceeding in defense of which he or she shall not have been successful on the merits or otherwise.
(A) if it shall ultimately be determined as provided in Section 6.04 that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Association as provided under Section 6.01; or
(B) if, in respect of any claim, issue or other matter asserted by or in the right of the Association in such action or suit he or she shall have been adjudged to be liable for acting with reckless disregard for the best interests of the Association or misconduct (other than negligence) in the performance of his or her duty to the Association, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas of a county where all or any part of the development is located or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite such adjudication of liability, and in view of all the circumstances, he or she is fairly and reasonably entitled to all or part of such indemnification.
Section 6.06. The indemnification provided by this Article Six shall be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles or this Code of Regulations or any agreement vote of members or disinterested Trustees, or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be an Officer or Trustee of the Association and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such person.
Section 6.07. The Association may purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection, including but not limited to trust funds, letters of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of any person who is or was a Trustee, Officer, employee, agent or volunteer of the Association, or is or was serving at the request of the Association as a director, trustee, officer, employee, agent or volunteer of another corporation (domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit), limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Association would have the obligation or the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article Six. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained with a person in which the Association has a financial interest.
Section 6.08. For purposes of this Article Six, and as examples and not by way of limitation:
(A) A person claiming indemnification under this Article Six shall be deemed to have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 6.01, or in defense of any claim, issue or other matter therein, if such action, suit or proceeding referred to Section 6.01, or in defense of any claim, issue or other matter therein, if such action, suit or proceeding shall be terminated as to such person, with or without prejudice, without the entry of a judgment or order against him or her, without a conviction of him or her, without the imposition of a fine upon him or her and without his or her payment or agreement to pay any amount in settlement thereof (whether or not any such termination is based upon a judicial or other determination of the lack of merit of the claims made against him or her or otherwise results in a vindication of him or her);
(B) References to an “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to a “fine shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Association” shall include any service as a Trustee, Officer, employee, agent or volunteer of the Association which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such Trustee, Officer, employee, agent or volunteer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Association” within the meaning of that term as used in this Article Six; and
(C) The term “volunteer” shall mean a Trustee, Officer or agent of the Association, or another person associated with the Association, who (i) performs services for or on behalf of, and under the authority or auspices of, the Association, and (ii) does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, for performing those services. Compensation does not include (i) actual and necessary expenses that are incurred by the volunteer in connection with the services performed for the Association and that are reimbursed to the volunteer or otherwise paid; (ii) insurance premiums paid on behalf of the volunteer and amounts paid advanced or reimbursed pursuant to this Article Six, Section 1702.12(E) of the Ohio Revised Code or any indemnification agreement, resolution or similar arrangement, or (iii) modest perquisites.
Section 6.09. Any action, suit or proceeding to determine a claim for indemnification under this Article Six may be maintained by the person claiming such indemnification, or by the Association, in the Court of Common Pleas of an Ohio county where all or any part of the development is located. The Association and (by claiming such indemnification) each such person consent to the exercise of jurisdiction over its or his or her person by the Court of Common Pleas of the Ohio county where all or any part of the development is located in any such action, suit or proceeding.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICES AND DEMANDS
Section 7.01 Any notice or demand which is required to be given or delivered to or served upon a member of the Association shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given, delivered or served when delivered personally to him or mailed to him at his address as it appears on the records of the Association.
Section 7.02 In computing the period of time for the giving of a noticed required or permitted under the Articles, this Code of Regulations or a resolution of the members or Trustees, the day on which the notice shall be given shall be excluded, and the day when the act for which the notice is given is to be done shall be included, unless the instrument calling for the notice otherwise provides. If notice is permitted to be given by mail, the notice shall be deemed to have been given when it is deposited in the mail.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 8.01 This Code of Regulations may be amended or a new Code of Regulations may be adopted at a meeting of voting members held for that purpose or in a vote conducted by mail by the affirmative vote of those members entitled to exercise not less than sixty-seven percent (67%) of the total voting power of the members.
Section 8.02 This Code of Regulations also may be deemed to be the Bylaws to the extent such reference is made in any deed.