CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

 

 

ANN LAKE WATERSHED ALLIANCE

Formally Known as ANN LAKE SPORTSMANS CLUB

 

ARTICLE I - NAME

 

The name of the organization is Ann Lake Watershed Alliance (ALWA), a Minnesota 501-(c)3 corporation.

 

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the organization shall be to protect the Ann Lake Watershed from deterioration,  restore the environment to a healthy natural ecosystem, and preserve that ecosystem by consistently monitoring key indicators of ecosystem health, educating the community on key lake environmental issues and by engaging in effective, high impact programs to improve the Ann Lake environment.

 

ARTICLE III - MEMBERS

 

1. ALWA shall have the following class of membership.  Annual dues and membership terms are detailed in the Standing Rules of the organization.
2. 1. Individual member volunteering labor
   2. Individual member without volunteering labor
   3. Family member volunteering labor
   4. Family member without volunteering labor
   5. Business or organizational membership
   6. Life time membership

 

2. Membership Qualifications
3. 1. Individuals must be at least 16 years of age.  Individuals and organizations should have interests near enough to the Ann Lake watershed to be knowledgeable of and concerned with Ann Lake watershed issues.  Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
   2. Membership category shall be selected by the member
   3. "Member in good standing" shall be defined as those who are current with the required dues and have been members for at least 90 days. 

 

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

 

1. Elected Officers - The following officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting in June of odd and even numbered years.
2. 1. President (even)
   2. Vice President (odd)
   3. Secretary (even)
   4. Treasurer (odd)
   5. Trustee (even)

 

 

2. Appointed Officers - The following officers shall be appointed in June by the continuing or incoming President.
3. 1. Events Officer
   2. Gambling Officer
   3. Lake Officer

 

3. Term of Office - The term of office shall be two years or until their successors are elected for elected officers and one year for appointed officers.   The term shall begin immediately after the closing of the Annual Meeting.  No member shall hold more than one office at a time and there shall be no limitation as to the number of terms a member may serve.

 

4. Nominating Committee - In March of each year the president shall appoint a nominating committee of at least 3 members and shall serve as an ex officio member of the nominating committee.  The nominating committee shall recommend one name for each office to be elected and present that slate of candidates at the May Meeting.

 

5. Balloting - Officers are elected by a majority vote of those members attending the Annual Meeting and casting a ballot.  A unanimous ballot may be declared when a nominee runs unopposed.  Nominations from the floor shall be permitted.

 

6. Installation of New Officers - New officers shall be installed in their elected positions, as the last item of business at the annual meeting and shall assume their responsibilities immediately upon the close of the Annual Meeting. 

 

7. Vacancies - Should a vacancy occur for any reason or by self exclusion, the president shall appoint an individual to serve in that capacity until the next election.  Self exclusion shall be defined as excessive absence from meetings and/or failure to carryout assigned responsibilities. 

 

8. Duties of the Officers
9. 1. The President shall:

1.                                                               i.      Preside at all membership meetings and Executive Committee meetings,  maintain order, conduct the meeting process consistent with Roberts Rules of Order, and insure that the organization conducts it business consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws and local, county, state and federal law.
2.                                                             ii.      Annually appoint the Events Officer, Gambling Officer, and Lake Officer
3.                                                           iii.      Annually recruit and lead Strategic Planning committee to expand and update the ALWA Strategic Plan. 
4.                                                           iv.      Appoint qualified members to fill vacancies until the next election
5.                                                             v.      Personally conduct and/or approve all ALWA communications
6.                                                           vi.      Be an ex officio member of all committees 

 

 

1.                                                               i.      Assume the responsibilities of the President when the President is absent.
2.                                                             ii.      Act as liaison between ALWA and area organizations with whom we can partner, for Ann Lake Watershed improvements. 
3.                                                           iii.      Recruit and lead the Communications Committee
4.                                                           iv.      Serve on the Executive Committee
5.                                                             v.      Report activities at each monthly ALWA meeting.
6.                                                           vi.      Prepare and present a communications and partnership report at the Annual Meeting

 

1.                                                               i.      Develop, with the President, the agenda for the next meeting
2.                                                             ii.      Accurately take minutes of the membership meetings.
3.                                                           iii.      Distribute the meeting minutes, the agenda for the following regular or special meeting and any other pertinent information to members at least 10 days prior to the next monthly ALWA meeting.
4.                                                           iv.      Prepare and certify by signature a document detailing the results of the annual election for use in changing bank signature cards if necessary.  This document shall be provided to the Executive Committee at the close of the Annual meeting, or not later than one working day after the meeting. 
5.                                                             v.      Distribution of minutes and information shall be by email or US Mail whichever is preferred by the member.
6.                                                           vi.      Maintain the official membership records and distribute a list of  members for use by the organization and for inclusion on the website.
7.                                                         vii.       Receive and read all incoming organizational mail, timely forward items to the appropriate officer and maintain all official documents file of the organization.
8.                                                       viii.      Develop and present a report at the Annual Meeting on the previous years membership activity.
9.                                                            ix.      Serve on the Executive Committee
10.                                                              x.      Recruit and lead the membership committee

 

1.                                                               i.      Be responsible for all cash received by ALWA and deposit the funds in a bank or banks as specified by the Executive Committee.
2.                                                             ii.      Present an itemized statement of accounting of the financial activities of ALWA at each monthly ALWA meeting.  The accounting statement shall contain an itemized cash flow statement showing beginning balance, all debits and credits and ending balance for each account. 
3.                                                           iii.      Pay all expense reimbursement requests and invoices for operating and capital expenditures on a timely basis but only after signature approval by the President or Vice President.
4.                                                           iv.      Maintain all financial records of the organization as dictated by prudence and law and present a year end financial report at the Annual Meeting. 
5.                                                             v.      Serve on the Executive Committee
6.                                                           vi.      Recruit and lead one event committee

 

 

 

 

1.                                                               i.      Have supervision and accountability for all cash, property and equipment of the organization. 
2.                                                             ii.      Shall maintain an up to date record of all organizational property, plant and equipment and its location.
3.                                                           iii.      Shall recruit and lead a project committee of at least three members to annually audit all accounts, books and records of the organizations and present a written audit report at the Annual Meeting.
4.                                                           iv.      Serve on the Executive Committee

 

1.                                                               i.      Recruit and lead a team of no more than 5 members to plan all social, fundraising, and service project events
2.                                                             ii.      Recruit sufficient leaders and sub committees to execute all events
3.                                                           iii.      Report the results of each event at the appropriate ALWA meeting.
4.                                                           iv.      Prepare and present a report of the previous years event results at the Annual Meeting.

 

1.                                                               i.      Recruit and lead a team of no more than 3 members to coordinate all gambling activities and requirements.
2.                                                             ii.      Report the results of all ALWA gambling functions at the appropriate ALWA meetings and the permitting agencies.
3.                                                           iii.      Prepare and present a report on the past years gambling activities at the Annual Meeting.

 

1.                                                               i.      Recruit and lead a team of no more than 5 members to work on water quality issues.
2.                                                             ii.      Report key water quality statistics at the monthly ALWA meetings
3.                                                           iii.      Prepare and present a "State of the Lake" report for the Annual Meeting.
4.                                                           iv.      Attend or designate attendees to pertinent education classes/seminars as the ALWA budget allows. 

 

 

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

 

1. Regular membership meetings shall be held monthly on the day and time determined by the Executive Committee and approved by the membership as a Standing Rule.  Special meetings, if any, shall be called as determined by the Executive Committee.  

 

2. Notice of the meeting, agenda and all pertinent information shall be sent to members 10 days prior to the meeting. 

 

3. The Quorum to conduct organizational business shall be Ten (10) members in good standing.

 

 

4. Only members in good standing may make motions or vote.

 

5. The membership meetings shall be conducted consistent with Roberts Rules of Order.

 

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

 

1. Standing Committees

1.                                                               i.      Consist of no more than 3 members and be led by the Trustee
2.                                                             ii.      Audit the accounting and property records of ALWA on an annual basis
3.                                                           iii.      Report the audit findings to the membership meeting following conclusion of the audit.
4.                                                               i.      Consist of no more than 3 member to be recruited and led by the Vice President
5.                                                             ii.      Develop and maintain a press kit detailing who we are and what we are trying to accomplish
6.                                                           iii.      Personally deliver the press kit to area newspapers and radio stations and develop a email/mail/telephone list of key contacts for press release purposes
7.                                                           iv.      Work to find news worthy items we can send out on ALWA letterhead.
8.                                                             v.      Act as liaison between ALWS and other area organizations with whom we may be able to partner to improve the Ann Lake watershed. 
9.                                                               i.      Consist of no more than 5 members and be led by the Events Officer
10.                                                             ii.      Plan all fund raising, social and service events.
11.                                                           iii.      Recruit leaders and volunteers to work all events 
12.                                                               i.      Be the elected officers of the ALWA, chaired by the President
13.                                                             ii.      Shall have general supervision of the affairs of ALWA between its meetings
14.                                                           iii.      Propose all Standing Rules. 
15.                                                           iv.      Prepare an annual budget detailing all planned revenue and expenses for ALWA and submit this budget for approval at the Annual Meeting. 
16.                                                             v.      Determine when Special Meetings are required
17.                                                           vi.      Be the deciding authority on which bank or banks ALWA will use and direct the treasurer accordingly.
18.                                                         vii.      Be the deciding authority on requested exceptions to the membership qualification requirements.
19.                                                       viii.      Investigate and administer membership discipline if required. 
20.                                                            ix.      Be subject to orders of the Alliance and none of its acts shall be inconsistent or contrary to the Vision, Mission, and Goals of ALWA. 

 

 

 

 

1.                                                               i.      Consist of no more than 3 members recruited and lead by the Gambling Officer
2.                                                             ii.      Apply for all permits mandated by Federal, State, or local ordinance for all gambling events.
3.                                                           iii.      Report the results of each gambling event to ALWA membership meetings and to the permitting agencies.
4.                                                           iv.      Prepare and present a report at the Annual Meeting on gambling activities for the previous year.   
5.                                                               i.      Consist of no more than 5 members and shall be lead by the Lake Officer
6.                                                             ii.      Draft a lake management plan for membership approval and coordinate membership efforts to execute the plan
7.                                                           iii.      Consistently measure the key indicators of water quality and report monthly to the membership
8.                                                           iv.      Present an up to date list of obvious and visible locations of impairments to Ann Lake at each membership meeting.
9.                                                             v.      Prepare and present a "State of the Lake" report at the Annual Meeting.
10.                                                               i.      Consist of no more than 3 members and shall be lead by the Secretary.
11.                                                             ii.      Plan and execute an annual membership drive
12.                                                           iii.      Provide membership recruiting and signup opportunities at every ALWA event.
13.                                                               i.      Consist of no more than 12 members and be lead by the President
14.                                                             ii.      Develop a comprehensive Ann Lake Watershed Strategic Plan for membership approval and update the plan annually.
15.                                                           iii.      Present a Strategic Plan overview at the Annual Meeting.

 

2. Project Committees:
3. 1. The Nominating Committee shall:

1.                                                               i.      Be appointed by the President in March of each year, shall be comprised of no less than three members, and serve from the time appointed to the end of the June Annual Meeting.
2.                                                             ii.      Interview members who are interested in continuing in their current officer position and those who are interested in being elected to an officer position.
3.                                                           iii.      Select the individuals whose talents and experience best serves the organization in the position recommended.  
4.                                                           iv.      Present a slate of candidates to the Executive Committee prior to April 15th with one individual recommended for each officer position that will be elected in the coming year.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII - DISCIPLINE

 

Any conduct at meetings which is offensive and/or unbecoming shall be grounds for expulsion from the meeting at the sole discretion of the President.   Continued or consistent  conduct of a member which is offensive or unbecoming is grounds for expulsion from membership at the discretion and action of the Executive Committee. 

 

ARTICLE VIII - AMMENDMENTS

 

This constitution and bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the members by a 2/3 vote of the attending members, provided that the amendment(s) were submitted in writing to the secretary and read by the secretary at the previous membership meeting. The amendment(s) must then be published as part of the minutes of that meeting. 

 

 

APPROVED:

Ann Lake Watershed Alliance,   June 7, 2009

 

 

 

 

ATTESTERS:  

                                                           ___________________________      

                                                            Jeffrey Hamme, President

 

 

 

 

                                                          ____________________________

                                                          Diane Lamp, Secretary