By-Laws

LAKE CHEMUNG RIPARIAN ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS–Revised August 2004

ARTICLE I—–NAME OF ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization shall be LAKE CHEMUNG RIPARIAN ASSOCIATION to be hereinafter referred to as the ASSOCIATION.

ARTICLE II—–PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION

The organization is formed for the mutual benefit of its members of the ASSOCIATION in the following general areas:

  1. Lake pollution control through water testing, aquatic weed control, and influence of local road drainage.
  2. Observation, reporting, and lake-user education concerning harmful water use activities.
  3. To work with Township and County governments so that lake and building restrictions are maintained and upgraded, where possible, to protect and preserve the quality of the lake, and to perform such legal and non-legal actions as may be deemed necessary, by majority vote of the membership, to achieve the above objectives.

ARTICLE III—–MEMBERSHIP

  1. Eligibility–To be eligible for membership in this ASSOCIATION, the requirements set forth in sub-paragraphs B and C of this article must be met.
  2. Geographic Area Covered–A votingmember of this ASSOCIATION must own property with Lake Frontage or deeded lake privileges to Lake Chemung. A non riparian may be a member but will not have voting privileges.
  3. Membership Qualifications–The members of this ASSOCIATION shall agree to all of the provisions of these by-laws.
  4. Member Definition:
    1. A member of this ASSOCIATION is a person, a family unit, or a property owning group meeting the requirements of sub-paragraphs B and C of this Article. No more than one vote per family or property owning group is allowed unless the additional vote comes from an individual elected by the membership to the Board of Directors. A member of one family unit or property owning group cannot also vote as a person or a member of another family unit or other property owning groups.
    2. A member will be considered in good standing if the qualifications of Article III, Subparagraph B and C are met and dues are current within the fiscal year.
    3. Members absent from a meeting may express and vote their views on any subject being considered by the membership by giving a written proxy to any other member in good standing.
    4. In order to be a voting member in this ASSOCIATION, one must be a member in good standing.
  5. Loss/Reinstatement of Membership:
    1. A member automatically loses membership if at any time during the fiscal year he fails to meet the requirements of Article III, Sub-paragraph B.
    2. A member can be automatically reinstated if the requirements of Article III, Sub-paragraph B are met.

ARTICLE IV—–GEOGRAPHICAL VOTING SEPARATION

  1. No more than two (2) persons from one family or property owning group shall be elected to the Board during the same service period.
  2. All Board of Directors will then vote on the positions (See Article V Paragraph 2).
  3. Only the Board of Directors pertaining to the ASSOCIATION will have the voting power on agenda items other than at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE V—–BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. Election
    1. The membership of those present shall, at the annual meeting, elect by majority a Board of Directors consisting of a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and no more than five trustees.
    2. The Board of Directors shall appoint one (1) associate member from Sunrise Park subdivision, one associate member from Outdoor Resorts, and one associate member from the International Society to serve on the Board.
  2. Eligibility–To be eligible for election as a Board member in this ASSOCIATION, a person must be a member in good standing of this ASSOCIATION.
  3. Term
    1. The Board of Directors shall be elected for a term of one year.
  4. Responsibilities
    1. President
      1. The President shall preside at all ASSOCIATION meetings and shall conduct the meetings in an orderly and professional manner.
      2. She/He shall represent personally, or by delegate, the ASSOCIATION, in all dealings with other persons, corporations, or associations.
      3. She/He shall call special meetings as may be required in accordance with Article VIII, Sub-paragraph F.
    2. Vice President–The Vice-President shall, in the absence or incapacity of the President, act for the President.
    3. Secretary
      1. The Secretary shall prepare the minutes of the proceedings of each regular or special meeting and shall present them for approval of the membership at the next regular meeting. The minutes shall be entered in permanent records of the ASSOCIATION.
      2. The Secretary shall generally conduct the official correspondence of the ASSOCIATION.
    4. Treasurer
      1. The Treasurer shall collect dues and/or assessments from the membership and shall promptly deposit them for safe keeping in the bank chosen by the Board.
      2. The Treasurer shall disburse ASSOCIATION monies only on the direction of a quorum of the Board of Directors.
      3. The Treasurer shall submit a written financial report at each regular meeting. This report shall be approved or modified by the membership. This report is to show all receipts and disbursements and shall be kept in permanent records of the ASSOCIATION.
      4. The Treasurer shall submit an Annual Financial Report at the annual meeting of the ASSOCIATION. This report shall be approved or modified by the membership.
      5. The Treasurer shall submit reports as required to the Michigan State Department of Treasury.
    5. Trustee
      1. A Trustee shall have the fiduciary duty to that of a trustee.
  1. Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
    1. The Board of Directors shall act as an operating group to conduct normal or routine business of the ASSOCIATION interim between regular meetings.
    2. Any Director of the Board may call a board of Directors meeting at any time.
    3. In the event a member of the board has three (3) unexcused absences from scheduled meetings, the remaining persons on the Board may, by majority vote, remove that person from the Board of Directors.  If a person is removed from the Board prior to the annual meeting, a new interim member may be selected from the respective section from which the termination resulted and that person may serve until the time of the next election.

ARTICLE VI—–INCORPORATION

  1. This ASSOCIATION shall be incorporated as a Non-Profit Organization under the Corporation Law of the State of Michigan.
  2. This ASSOCIATION shall be incorporated without stock.

ARTICLE VII—–MEETINGS

  1. The annual ASSOCIATION meeting shall be held in August of each year.
  2. Regular meetings of this ASSOCIATION’s Board of Directors shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month.  The Board may, by majority vote, change the meeting schedule if the meeting day and/or the meeting frequency necessitate such a change.
  3. The Fiscal Year shall start on September 1rst and end on August 31rst.
  4. The notice of all regular meetings shall be published in “The Heron” newsletter and/or posted on the LCRA website, and in addition may be displayed on a poster in a local business establishment. All meetings shall be open to the public.
  5. The place of each meeting shall be established by the Board of Directors.
  6. The President may call special meetings at any time.
  7. No regular or special meetings to conduct business of this ASSOCIATION shall be held unless a quorum of the Board of Directors is present.

ARTICLE VIII—–COMMITTEES

  1. The following standing committees may be appointed by the President from each of the nine (9) Board members and three (3) Associate members and shall hold office for a term of one (1) year.
    1. By-Laws: This committee shall prepare or select a set of By-Laws for the proper organization and conduct of this ASSOCIATION. Upon request by the general membership, they shall investigate the need of changes to the By-Laws and shall submit such changes or amendments to the ASSOCIATION for approval.
    2. Housekeeping: This committee shall hear concerns of members or the general public and shall investigate and propose corrective action to the ASSOCIATION.
    3. Nominating: This committee shall meet as necessary prior to the annual meeting and submit a proposed slate of Directors for the coming fiscal year.
    4. Section Representatives: Six (6) representatives from each section may be appointed by the section Board of Directors.
  2. Special committees may be appointed by a majority of the Board of Directors as the need arises.
  3. Each committee chairperson shall submit a written report which will be made a part of the agenda of each regular meeting and present it to the Board.

ARTICLE IX—–DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

  1. Dues to this ASSOCIATION shall be set by majority vote at the August meeting. Notification of the proposed donation change shall be made in advance of the aforesaid meeting.
  2. Special assessments to properly discharge the purposes of this ASSOCIATION shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the membership in attendance. Notification of a proposed assessment shall be made prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE X—–AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these By-Laws shall be presented at the annual August meeting of the Board of Directors and voted upon at the annual meeting in August. A two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the membership in attendance shall be necessary to amend the By-Laws.

LAKE CHEMUNG - PO Box 195 Howell, MI, 48844