Join or renew as an official member to help support our beautiful Seton Hill community!
Why should I become a member?
Share your voice! While our general meetings are open to the public and everyone is encouraged to share their ideas, only official SHA members receive voting privileges. During General Meetings, the board solicits feedback in the form of voice voting from SHA members on issues that impact residents, homeowners, and business owners in Seton Hill. By joining, you can:
- Vote on Neighborhood Issues: Make your voice heard during voice-votes on zoning, development, and community issues that impact residents and businesses.
- Elect the Board of Directors: Vote in our annual elections every October.
- Run for Leadership: Step up to run for a board seat yourself! (Note: To vote in elections or run for the board, you must be a current member, a resident/property/business owner in Seton Hill, and have attended at least one SHA meeting in the prior 12 months).
FAQ
Who can join?
Membership is open to anyone 18 or older who falls into one of these categories:
- Residents. Anyone who lives in Seton Hill, whether renting or owning.
- Non-resident property owners. You can join even if you don’t live here, as long as you own a residence within the boundaries. Each residence is limited to two memberships.
- Businesses and institutions. One designated representative per business or institution located within Seton Hill. Does not need to be the same representative every time, but only 1 vote per business.
- Neighboring residents. If you live just outside Seton Hill, you can request a non-voting membership, subject to the Board’s approval on a case-by-case basis. This tier participates in Association programs and can attend meetings, but doesn’t vote and can’t run for the Board.
When are member meetings?
The Seton Hill Association meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 7:30-8:30pm.
Where are meetings held?
Meetings can always be accessed virtually through Zoom, and sometimes hybrid with the in-person meeting held in the St. Mary’s Park building (it doesn’t have an address, but is located across from 546 Saint Mary Street)
What if dues are a financial barrier?
No one is turned away due to an inability to pay. If membership dues present a financial hardship, you can earn your individual membership through four (4) hours of volunteer service dedicated to Seton Hill over the past year.
Looking for volunteer opportunities? Join us at the St. Mary’s Park building for our monthly Neighborhood Cleanups! If you have questions about paying with volunteer hours, please contact us.
How do I renew my membership?
Since the membership year runs October to October, renewal falls at the start of that cycle each year. If dues for the new year aren’t paid within two months of the due date, membership is automatically terminated under the bylaws, not just marked inactive. Renewing before that two-month window closes keeps your membership, and your voting rights, uninterrupted.
If you’d rather cancel outright instead of letting it lapse, the bylaws allow you to resign at any time by sending written notice to the Board of Directors or the President.
How does voting work?
Being a Vote-eligible Member (a resident, non-resident owner, or business representative, as opposed to a non-voting neighboring member) doesn’t by itself guarantee a vote at any given meeting. To vote, you need all three:
- Be present at the meeting,
- Be current on dues, and
- Have attended at least one Association meeting in the previous 12 months.
There’s no proxy voting, someone else can’t cast your vote for you, though the Board does pre-announce and allow absentee ballots for the annual election.
Membership Dues
Memberships are considered active upon submission of member form and payment of member dues. The membership year runs October 1 through September 30. Dues fund neighborhood advocacy, community events, and park upkeep.
Choose an option below to pay this year’s dues:
Individual
One neighbor, one vote, and a say in what happens here next.
Household
Two adults under one roof, each with a vote of their own.
Business
(Resident)
For businesses and institutions here in Seton Hill, owned by the people who live here.
Business
(Non-Resident)
For businesses and institutions with a presence in Seton Hill, even if you don’t live here yourself.
Cash, check, PayPal, and Square are all still accepted (Cash/check are preferred due to payment app fees):
- Cash: attend an in-person board event or contact the board to exchange
- Check: write it out to “Seton Hill Association, 600 N. Paca Street, Baltimore, MD 20201”
- PayPal (include your name and email in the notes)
- Square (Please include your email address in the notes)
Submit the membership form below after submitting payment through one of those four methods.
