Bylaws

Bylaws of the Wabedo-Little Boy-Cooper-Rice Lakes Association

Revised July 20, 2019


Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the WABEDO-LITTLE BOY-COOPER-RICE LAKES ASSOCIATION.


Article II: Purpose

The purpose of this Association shall be to ensure our beautiful lakes and their environments will survive to be enjoyed by those generations which follow us, to promote the welfare of the people, and to improve the conditions in and around Wabedo, Little Boy, Cooper and Rice lakes.

This Association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.


Article III: Basic Policies

Section 1. The Association shall be nonpartisan and nonsectarian.

Section 2. The objectives of the Association shall be:

a. To maintain and improve the lakes fisheries

b. To maintain and improve the lakes water quality

c. To promote safety

d. To provide educational materials to Association members and lake users

e. To enhance the beauty and aesthetic qualities of the lakes and their shoreline

f. To present Association positions to authorities in support of our mission

g. To engender neighborliness and promote a spirit of community

h. To maintain a directory of property owners who own property on Association lakes

Article IV: Membership, Fees, Dues and Assessments

Section 1.

a. To be a full member of the Association, an individual(s) must own real estate on Wabedo, Little Boy, Cooper or Rice lakes and pay the membership fee as stated in Section 2 of Article IV. Such members will hold one (1) vote on matters brought before the membership and be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors.

b. To be an associate member, an individual(s) will have an interest in supporting the goals of the Association and pay the membership as stated in Section 2 of Article IV. Such members will have a non-voting membership.

Section 2. The annual membership fee (dues) shall be determined at the Annual Meeting by a majority of the members present. The annual membership period shall be from January 1st through December 31st each year.

Section 3. No assessments shall be made against the members of this Association by order of the Board of Directors or by order of the membership of this Association.

Section 4. No member shall receive compensation in the form of fees or salary from the Association for their services.

Section 5. The fiscal year shall end with the close of business on June 30 each year.

Article V: Officers, Directors and their Election

Section 1. The Officers of the Board of Directors shall be President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer. These officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by a majority vote of those present. The President and Vice-President terms would be staggered so they are not elected in the same years. The Secretary/Treasurer may be one combined position held by one individual or two separate positions held by two separate individuals. If separate, the terms would be staggered so they are not elected in the same years.

Section 2. There shall be a Nominating Committee of up to five (5) selected by the President. It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate the candidate(s) to hold office. A report of the Nominating Committee shall be sent to the Secretary prior to the Annual Meeting to enable him/her to send a copy to each member of the Board of Directors. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.

Section 3. Only paid-up members of the Association shall be eligible to vote or hold office.

Section 4. If a vacancy in any office occurs due to death, resignation or removal, a replacement shall be appointed by the President, subject to Board of Directors approval.

Section 5. The order of election of Officers/Directors shall be:

  1. President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer

a. The length of term of these officers shall be two (2) years.

2. Directors

a. The length of term of these officers shall be two (2) years.

b. Terms may be successive.

Section 6. Officers and Directors shall take office on the first of the month following their election.


Article VI: Duties of Officers

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors and committees except the Nominating Committee; shall sign all orders of the Secretary/Treasurer; shall appoint Special and Standing Committees; and shall give a report at the Annual Meeting. The President may be a Parliamentarian.

Section 2. The Vice president shall act as an aid to the President and shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of President when requested to do so.

Section 3. The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep a correct record of all Annual Meetings and meetings of the Board of Directors and committees as the president may direct; effectively maintain the association's records; notify members of their appointment to committees and send all necessary notices of committee meetings.

Section 4. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to keep and maintain a record of paid members; receive all monies due this Association; deposit same in a depository approved by the Board of Directors; disperse the funds of the Association only on the order of the Board of Directors; present a statement of account at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at other times when requested to do so by the President; and shall make a complete report at the Annual Meeting.

Section 5. It shall be the duty of all officers to deliver to the newly elected officers within ten (10) days after the election all properties belonging to their respective offices.

Section 6. Except as expressly provided herein, the entire management and government of the Association shall be vested in the Officers/Directors of the Association.

Article VII: Meetings

Section 1. The Annual Meeting shall be scheduled yearly by the Board of Directors. Special meetings may be called by the President or by the request of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. At the Annual Meeting, any motion that moves to donate, give, or forward a sum in excess of fifty ($50) dollars to any organization, operation or entity, and such motion is seconded and passed, must be tabled until the Board of Directors review said motion and approves it by a two thirds (2/3) majority.

Article VIII: Board of Directors

Section 1. The Board of Directors of the Association will consist of:

At least one member from each of the four (4) lakes (Wabedo, Little Boy, Cooper, Rice) if possible; and a minimum of five (5) and maximum of nine (9) at-large members (including officers) for two (2) year terms. Terms may be successive.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer) and all other Directors.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall have the Power and Authority over the affairs of the Association during the interim between Annual Meetings.

Section 4. The duties of the Board of Directors shall be: to transact necessary business in intervals between Annual Meetings; to approve plans of work of the Standing committees; to appoint an Auditor or an Auditing Committee at least two (2) weeks prior to the Annual Meeting to audit the Treasurer’s accounts, to approve routine bills within the limits of the budget.

Section 5. A majority of the Directors then serving (less those Directors excused) shall constitute a quorum of the meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of those Directors present shall have the power to act unless specifically stated otherwise.

Section 6. A Director may be removed for cause by a majority vote of all other Directors then serving. A Director may be removed for conflict of interest or failure to perform required duties by a 2/3 vote of all other Directors then serving. Three (3) unexcused absences from Board of Director meetings in one calendar year may result in removal for failure to perform required duties. Absences may be excused by notification to the President in advance of the meeting.


Article IX: Standing and Special Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees, as deemed necessary, may be created by the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint the Chairs and members of the Standing Committees subject to Board of Directors approval.

Section 2. Special Committees, as deemed necessary, may be created by and appointed by the President. Since a Special Committee is created and appointed for a specific purpose, it automatically goes out of existence when its work is done and its final report is received.

Section 3. The President shall be an ex-officio member of committees except the Nominating Committee.

Article X: Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. If there is disagreement on parliamentary procedures that are being utilized, Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern this Association in all cases to which they are applicable and which they are not in conflict with the bylaws of the Association.

Article XI: Appropriations and Expenditures

Section 1. No debts shall be incurred or funds appropriated except by order of the Board of Directors of the Association.

Section 2. All promissory notes and other commercial paper and all other contracts necessary or proper to be executed by the Association may be signed by such Officer or Officers as the Board of Directors shall authorize.

Article XII: Liability of Officers and Directors of the Association

Section 1. No person shall be liable to the Association for any loss or damage suffered on account of any action taken or omitted in good faith as a member of the Officers or Directors of the Association if such person:

a. exercised and used the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would have exercised or used under the circumstances in the conduct of one’s own affairs, or

b. took or omitted to take such action on reliance of advice of counsel for the Association or upon information furnished by the Officers of the Association which such person had reasonable grounds to believe.

Section 2. The Officers and Directors of the Corporation’s personal liability to the Association or its members for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty is hereby eliminated, except that the liability is not eliminated:

a. for a breach of the Board Member’s duty of loyalty to the Association or its members;

b. for acts or omissions that are not in good faith or involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law;

c. for a transaction from which the Board Member derived an improper personal gain;

d. for an act or omission occurring before the date when the provision in the Articles eliminating or limiting liability becomes effective.

Article XIII: Amendments

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at the Annual Meeting of this Association by two thirds (2/3) vote of those present providing the following requirements have been complied with:

a. A copy of the proposed amendment(s) must be approved by the Executive Board prior to the Annual Meeting.

b. The Executive Board shall have enough copies for each member of the Association who is in attendance at the Annual Meeting.

Article XIV: Dissolution

Section 1. In the event this Association is dissolved, any and all properties of the Association shall be given to the Department of Natural Resources of the State of Minnesota, specifically for the management of fisheries on Wabedo, Little Boy, Cooper and Rice lakes. However, if the named recipient is not then in existence or no longer a qualified distributee, or unwilling or unable to accept the distribution, then the assets of this Association shall be distributed to a fund, foundation or corporation organized and operated exclusively for the improvement of fishing on Wabedo, Little Boy, Cooper and Rice Lakes under section 501(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The above bylaws were approved and adopted at a meeting of the Wabedo-Little Boy-Cooper-Rice Lakes Association on July 20, 2019.

(signed)

President,

Kathy Wagner