Bylaws of ESB

Bylaws of ESB

• Article I:    Name

  • Section 1.   The name of this organization shall be the `Emma, Stocking, and Bottle Lakes Association’.

• Article II    Purpose

  • Section 1.   The Association shall promote and maintain the environmental, economic and recreational protection of lakes Emma, Stocking, Upper Bottle, Lower Bottle and vicinity.

  • Section 2.   The Association shall work in conjunction with federal, state and local agencies, public and private, to maintain the quality of the lakes.

  • Section 3.   The Association shall provide educational resources relating to the protection and quality of lakes Emma, Stocking, Upper Bottle, Lower Bottle and its wildlife.

  • Section 4.   The Association shall inform the general membership of civil concerns relating to the purposes of the Association.

  • Section 5.   The Association shall be a non-profit, non-stock organization.

• Article III    Membership

  • Section 1.   Membership shall be open to all interested parties who share a concern of the purposes of the Association.

• Article IV    Dues

  • Section 1.   Initial membership fee shall be $30.00 for general membership

  • Section 2.   Annual membership dues shall be set by the Board of Directors.  Annual dues shall be payable on or before the annual meeting for the coming fiscal year to remain a voting member in good standing with the Association.

• Article V    Officers

  • Section 1.    The officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

  • Section 2.    The Board of Directors shall consist of at least one member from each separate lake.

  • Section 3.    The immediate Past President shall serve on the Board of Directors as a voting member and to advise the Board.

• Section 4.    Duties

  • A.    The President shall preside at all annual, board and special meetings of the Association and shall represent the Association at official functions.

  • B.    The Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, fulfill the duties of the President. Further, the Vice President shall fulfill other duties as designated by the President, the Board of the general membership

  • C.    The Secretary shall record and maintain minutes of all annual, board and special meetings of the Association and shall manage all routing correspondence of the Association.

  • D.    The treasurer shall maintain all revenues of the Association and shall disperse expenditures as designated by the Board or the general membership. The Treasurer shall present a yearly report of income and expenditures at the annual meeting of the Association.

  • E.    The Board Members shall fulfill all duties as directed by the President, Board of Directors or the general membership.

• Section 5.    Terms of Office.

  • A.    Officers shall serve a term of two years and shall be elected at the annual meeting by simple majority.

  • B.    Board Members shall serve a term of three years and shall be elected at the annual meeting by a simple majority.

  • C.    Board Members may appoint an alternate in their absence.

• Article VI    Meetings

  • Section 1.    The Association shall meet annually the second week of July each year.

  • Section 2.    The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of four times each year.

  • Section 3.    Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Board of Directors or at the request of 10% of the general membership

• Article VII    Address

  • Section 1.    The Association shall maintain a post office box in Park Rapids at : PO Box 365, Park Rapids, MN 56470

• Article VIII    Voting and Quorum

  • Section 1.    Each paid membership is entitled up to two (2) votes.

  • Section 2.    A written proxy ballot authorized by a board officer will constitute a valid ballot at the Annual Meeting.

  • Section 3.    A quorum shall consist of twenty-five percent (25%) of the general membership in attendance and voting, including allowable proxy votes.

• Article IX    Parliamentary Procedure

  • Section1.    All meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order unless otherwise specified by these laws.

• Article X    Suspension of the Bylaws

  • Section 1.    These bylaws may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the majority present and voting or by mail for emergency situations only.

• Article XI    Amendments to the Bylaws

  • Section 1.    These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Association provided that a written notice is given to the general membership at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting as which action is to be taken.

• Article XII    Dissolution

  • Section 1.    The Association may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of all members through mail balloting. If dissolution is favorably acted upon, all just debts shall be paid out of the funds of the Association and all remaining funds, if any, shall be donated to the Fresh Water Foundation.

• Article XIII    Liability

  • Section 1.    It is implicitly understood that the Association assumes no responsibility or liability for the well-being of any member or representative of a member attending, managing or participating in meetings or any other functions of the Association.

  • Section 2.    No Officer or Director, former Officer or Director, nor any authorized agent of the Association shall be liable in any manner to the Association or any person or group for any loss or damage sustained as a result of action taken or omitted to be taken by said Officer, Director, or agent in good faith, if he/she exercises or used the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would have exercised or used under the circumstances in the conduct of his/her own affairs.

Job Descriptions and Responsibilities of the ESB Board and Committee Chairpersons 

• The President shall:

  • Preside at all annual, board and special meetings of the Association and shall represent the Association at official functions.

• The Vice President shall:

  • In the absence of the President, fulfill the duties of the President, and

  • Fulfill other duties as designated by the President, the Board or the general membership.

• The Secretary shall:

  • Record and maintain minutes of all annual, board and special meetings of the Association, and

  • Shall manage all routine correspondence of the Association (minutes, agendas, meeting notices, etc.)

• The Treasurer shall:

  • Maintain all revenues of the Association and shall disperse expenditures as designated by the Board or the general membership, and

  • Shall present a yearly report of income and expenditures at the annual meeting of the Association.

• Board Members shall:

  • Fulfill all duties as directed by the President, board of Directors or the general membership.

• Board of Directors: shall:

  • Consist of at least one member from each separate lake.

  • The immediate past president shall serve on the Board of Directors as a voting member and to advise the Board.

  • Meet a minimum of four times each year.

• Membership Chairperson:

  • Oversee recruitment and retention of Association Members.

  • Attend all board meetings in a non-voting capacity as to keep the board members informed.

  • Be appointed to a 2 year term.

• Newsletter/Communications Chairperson:

  • Shall assemble and disseminate information to the membership.

  • Oversee and maintain the membership data base.

  • Attend all board meetings in a non-voting capacity as necessary to keep the board informed.

• Social Chairperson shall:

  • Initiate and oversee social activities for the membership.

  • Attend all board meetings in a non-voting capacity as necessary to keep the board informed.

  • Be appointed to a 2 year term.

• Water Quality Monitoring Coordination Chairperson shall:

  • Oversee the water quality monitoring/Secchi testing for all 4 lakes

  • Coordinate testing materials for all lakes

  • Ensure that samples are provided to the appropriate testing facility

  • Coordinate payment of water testing with treasurer for ESB

  • Attend all board meetings in a non-voting capacity as necessary to keep the board informed

  • Be appointed to a 2 year term

Water Safety Officers and COLA reps are not board members but are volunteers who share information with the Board. They are not voting members of the Board of Directors.

Revised 7/12/2014