NEW: Proposed Amendments to the SLA Constitution and Bylaws (2018)
SLAC
CONSTITUTION OF THE SISEEBAKWET LAKE ASSOCIATION
Article I
The name of this Association, a successor to the Sugar Lake Property Owner's Association, shall be the Siseebakwet Lake Association.
Article II
Siseebakwetisaunique1350-acreclear water lake. Thenamecomesfromthe Ojibway word “Ziinzibaakwad” and means “sugar”, hence the reason the lake is often referred to as Sugar Lake.
The mission of the Siseebakwet Lake Association is to preserve, protect and enhance our lakes; and to provide social opportunities to our watershed and membership area.
In support of our mission, the primary goals are:
1. Support approved environmental practices.
2. Monitor and respond to changes in water quality.
3. Inform, educate and assist members and governing bodies regarding practices affecting our lakes and environment.
4. Provide social opportunities.
Article III
The membership and conduct of the Association shall be determined by the rules and regulation prescribed in the By-Laws, which from time to time shall be adopted or amended.
Article IV
The members of the Association shall be represented by a Board of Directors in the interval between Association member meetings and the Board of Directors shall have the authority to supervise and direct the affairs and activities of the Association consistent with the constitution and with the purposes of the Association.
Article V
This Constitution may be amended by a majority membership vote A) at any annual meeting, or B) at a special meeting called for that purpose. Members can vote in person or by mail. Notice of the proposed amendments must be mailed to the membership at least fifteen (15) days before the meeting.
SLAB
BYLAWS OF THE SISEEBAKWET LAKE ASSOCIATION
Article I: MEMBERSHIP
1. A member is defined as any individual(s) owning land within the Siseebakwet Lake watershed or in sections 8, 9, 10 or 16 of Range 26 West, Township 54 North and who subscribes to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Siseebakwet Lake Association. The member’s parents, immediate adult children and spouse or significant other are eligible for membership.
2. The Board of Directors may accept other persons not eligible under paragraph 1 for membership. Such other persons shall not have voting rights. These persons will be deemed associate members.
3. Each member or associate member shall pay annual dues for the period from January 1 to December 31. The Board of Directors will determine the amount of annual dues. The Directors may authorize a lesser amount on a case-by-case basis in the event of a hardship.
4. Only paid members may vote.
Article II: MEETINGS
1. An annual meeting of members shall be held at such time and place as the board of directors designates.
2. A special meeting may be called at any time for any purpose A) by the Board of Directors, or B) by the President, or C) by written request of twenty percent (20%) of the members.
3. Notices of all Association meetings shall be mailed to all members at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting. The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting and shall be mailed to the home address listed on the official membership roll.
4. A quorum at any meeting of members shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the number of eligible to vote, except that when voting is by mail then a quorum shall consist of twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of members eligible to vote. A member may vote in person or by written proxy.
5. The president or in his or her absence the vice-president, shall preside at meetings. Merriam Webster's Rules of Order shall be the authority on questions of order not provided for in the Bylaws.
Article III: OFFICERS
1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
2. The officers shall be elected by the newly constituted Board of Directors at the first board meeting following the annual meeting of members. Officers shall be chosen from these fifteen (15) board members. If a board member declines an office or a vacancy occurs, then the duties of that office shall be conducted on a pre-temp basis until the vacancy is filled.
3. All officers shall be elected for a one (1) year term.
4. The duties and responsibilities of the officers are:
President: The President shall be the chief executive officer, shall have general management of the business of the Association, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the members and the Board of Directors are affected. The President shall be a member of all committees and shall have the general powers and duties usually vested in the office of the organization.
Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President in the business of the Association. In the absence of the President, the vice President shall perform all duties of the President.
Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for recording all proceedings of all meetings, all votes, and shall keep minutes of all proceedings. All votes shall be done by voice or a show of hands, unless a secret ballot is requested by any Board members present. The Secretary shall also issue all communiqués to the membership.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have custody of the Association funds and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books of account belonging to the Association and shall deposit all monies or other valuable effects in the name of and to credit of the Association is such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Association as may be ordered by the President or the Board of Directors and shall render to the members at the annual meeting, or whenever they require it, an account of the financial condition of the Association. In the case of death, resignation or removal from office of the Treasurer, all books, papers, money, vouchers, and other property of whatever kind was in the Treasurer's possessions or under his or her control belonging to the Association shall be surrendered to the Association.
ARTICLE IV: DIRECTORS
1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of fifteen (15) members to be elected by the members at the annual meeting and are to serve for a three year term and until their successors are elected. The terms shall be staggered so that five (5) directors are elected each year. At the annual meeting of members at which these restated bylaws are adopted, five directors are to be elected for a one-year tern, five for a two - year term, and five for a three-year term. Thereafter five directors will be elected for the three-year term.
2. The Board of Directors shall meet at least six times per year. The Secretary shall mail notice of the time and place of meetings at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting (even though the time and place may have been set at the preceding meeting.)
3. Each Director shall have one vote on all issues before the Board of Directors. On major issues a board member may cast a vote via mail or phone if unable to be present at a board meeting. Any board member (or their relatives by blood or marriage) who has a financial interest in any manner or issue brought before the board shall abstain from voting on such issue.
4. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of six (6) Directors.
5. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the conduct of the business and affairs of the Association, and is particularly charged with the responsibility of maintaining an awareness of conditions within the area, which may warrant Association involvement, and for taking such action, as it deems necessary to provide a response appropriate to the interest of the Association membership. The Board shall have the authority to make rules and regulations to assist in the efficient and proper operation of the affairs of the Association provided that such rules and regulations are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws.
6. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be open to members of the Association and to others at the invitation of the Board.
7. The Board of Directors shall issue, at least quarterly, a newsletter to the members describing the actions considered and taken since the last newsletter. An annual report summarizing the activities of the Board of Directors shall be represented at the annual meeting of the members.
8. Vacant board positions will be filled, in order, by those candidates receiving the highest membership votes at the previous annual meeting. If no candidates are available, the position will remain vacant until the following annual meeting at which time the vacant members' term will be completed.
ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES
1. The Board of Directors may establish, define the duties, and provide for the appointment of members of such committees as may be necessary to carry out the business of the Association. Such committees may be continued or dissolved by the board.
ARTICLE VI: CONTRIBUTIONS
1. Voluntary contributions by members or others whose interest is consistent with the mission of the Association may be accepted by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
1. This By-Laws may be amended by a majority membership vote A) at any annual meeting, or B) at a special meeting called for that purpose. Members can vote in person or by mail. Notice of the proposed amendments must be mailed to the membership at least fifteen (15) days before the meeting.
Revised September 6, 2004 (CNSBYLW12.doc)