LCRA Bylaws

Lake Champlain Restoration Association
A community service association of volunteers
dedicated to the restoration of Lake Champlain

BYLAWS

Article I. Address Article IX. Election of Officers
Article II. Preamble Article X. Removal of Officers
Article III. Mission and Goals Article XI. Meetings
Article IV. Membership Article XII. Member in Good Standing
Article V. Dues Article XIII. Order of Business
Article VI. Officers Article XIV. Amendments to Bylaws
Article VII. Duties of Officers Article XV. Political Activity
Article VIII. Executive Committee Article XVI. Dissolution and Distribution of Assets

These bylaws are adopted by the Association chiefly for the
purpose of governing its members and regulating its affairs.

ARTICLE I. Address

The Association shall be known as The LAKE CHAMPLAIN RESTORATION ASSOCIATION. Its principal address shall be 4738 Lake Street, Bridport, Vermont 05734.

ARTICLE II. Preamble

WE THE PEOPLE, resident and nonresident, sportsmen, water front property owners and those who care about Lake Champlain, due hereby unite in this Association to work with and urge the federal, state, county and town governments and their appropriate agencies with their funds, legislation and influence to restore the clarity, cleanliness and accessibility of Lake Champlain, our natural heritage, by actively attacking the infestations of native and nonnative nuisance aquatic plants and animals.

ARTICLE III. Mission and Goals

The mission of this Association is to promote the restoration and improvement of Lake Champlain for benefit of those who live along its shores and use its waters. The goals are: 1) Control and eliminate native and nonnative nuisance aquatic plants and animals that are harmful to the lake, particularly but not limited to Eurasian watermilfoil, water chestnuts and zebra mussels. 2) Encourage, support and participate, when and where appropriate, in programs and studies that further the mission of the Association. 3) Monitor activities and events that could affect the lake and take appropriate action to ensure they are not harmful and are conducive to preserving and advancing the ecological well-being of the lake.

ARTICLE IV. Membership

Full membership with voting privileges is open to any adult (18 years) who abides by the Association bylaws and otherwise maintains status as a member in good standing.

ARTICLE V. Dues

Initial membership fee is $24 per household (one address) and confers membership on all adult members of the household. Annual dues @ $24 are payable on or before January 1 of each year.

ARTICLE VI. Officers

The officers of the Lake Champlain Restoration Association shall be President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. The term of office shall be one year from July through June. Officers may serve unlimited consecutive terms. A majority of attending members in good standing may elect officers. The officers shall designate an Executive Committee, and may designate such other committees and committee chairs, at their discretion.

ARTICLE VII. Duties of Officers

The President serves as the official representative of the Lake Champlain Restoration Association in all matters in which the Association chooses to participate and will perform the following duties:

1. Preside at the meetings of the Association and meetings of the Executive Committee to purposefully moderate discussion and ensure timely resolution of issues.

2. Solicit information from the members as necessary to plan a comprehensive meeting agenda applicable to the concerns and objectives of the Association and its members.

3. Perform such other duties as are usual to the office including, after authorization by the Executive Committee, the execution of any legal instrument except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly the duty of another officer of the Association.

4. Represent the Association or appoint an ad hoc representative as may be necessary from time to time.

5. Appoint a nominating committee to ensure a timely and orderly succession of officers prior to the conclusion of tenure.


The Vice President will perform the following duties:

1. Perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President.


2. Succeed the President at the conclusion of the President’s term of office.


The Recording Secretary shall perform the following duties:

1. Maintain the records of all meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee.

2. Prepare minutes of the Association and Executive Committee meetings.

3. Prepare and maintain a membership roster identifying all members in good standing at the time of each regularly scheduled meeting.

4. Disseminate information to the membership as may from time to time be directed by the Executive Committee.

5. Such other duties as are usual to the office.


The Corresponding Secretary will perform the following duties:

1. Prepare correspondence as necessary for general communication between the officers of the Association and entities outside of the Association.

2. Respond to inquiries of a general nature to the Association and or refer such inquiries to the appropriate officer or committee chair.

3. Assist the Recording Secretary in disseminating information to the membership as may from time to time be directed by the Executive Committee.

4. Such other duties as are usual to the office.

The Treasurer will perform the following duties:

1. Receive all money into the Association and keep an accurate account thereof.

2. Open and control a checking account for the Association.

3. Make disbursements after authorization by the Association or the Executive Committee.


4. Perform all duties in a manner consistent with generally accepted accounting practices.

5. Prepare a written report monthly and at any other time the President requests.

6. Such other duties as are usual to the office.

The officers of the Association recognize that the workload might fluctuate disproportionately among them and they agree to assist each other as necessary to minimize an excessive burden to any of them individually.

ARTICLE VIII. Executive Committee

The officers will designate an Executive Committee to consist of currently elected officers and committee chairs. The officers may also appoint members qualified to advise the committee on matters of importance to Association concerns and objectives.

ARTICLE IX. Election of Officers

Officers shall be elected for a term of one year from July through June. Officers may serve unlimited consecutive terms. If the President chooses not to be reelected, the Vice President will automatically assume the office of President. A majority of attending members in good standing may elect officers. An officer shall continue in office until a successor is duly elected and available to assume the office. If a vacancy occurs, the Executive Committee shall serve as a nominating committee for an election to be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Regular elections shall be held in May of each year.

ARTICLE X. Removal of Officers

An officer may be removed from office by a vote of a majority of the entire membership in good standing. A member in good standing must petition the President at a regularly scheduled meeting for a Vote to Remove at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The petition must be signed by a minimum of 10 members in good standing. If the President is the subject of a petition for a Vote to Remove, it is to be presented to the Vice President at a regularly scheduled meeting. The Vice President will inform the President that the Vice President will call for such a vote at the next regularly scheduled meeting. A petition for a Vote to Remove the President must be signed by a minimum of 15 members in good standing.

ARTICLE XI. Meetings

Regular periodic meetings of the Association shall be held according to a schedule to be approved by the Executive Committee. The exact place and time of each meeting shall be set by the President. The members in good standing attending the meeting constitute a quorum for general business at regular meetings.

Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called at any time by the President. The President or Vice President shall notify each member not less than 48 hours in advance as to the place and time of all special meetings.

ARTICLE XII. Member in Good Standing

A member in good standing is one whose dues are current and has not acted in violation of the Association bylaws.


ARTICLE XIII. Order of Business

The order of business at all meetings shall be as follows:

1. Call to Order
2. Introductions
3. Recording Secretary Report
4. Corresponding Secretary Report
5. Treasurer Report
6. Committee Reports
7. Pending Business
8. New Business
9. Adjourn


ARTICLE XIV. Amendments to Bylaws

The bylaws of this Association may be amended (changed, repealed or expanded) by presenting the proposal to the membership at a regularly scheduled meeting for a vote by the members in good standing attending the regularly scheduled meeting. A majority of attending members in good standing may amend the bylaws.

ARTICLE XV. Political Activity

The Association shall not participate or intervene in support of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

ARTICLE XVI. Dissolution and Distribution of Assets

Upon dissolution of the Association, the assets will be distributed to a tax exempt community service environmental protection organization or to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, as the membership decides. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No sustantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propanganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the publishing or distribution of statements for any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Approved by the membership April 5, 2001

FIRST AMENDMENT

Article V. Dues is amended as follows: Effective January 1, 2005, initial membership fee is $24 per household (one address) and confers membership on all adult members of the household. Annual dues @$24 are payable on or before January 1 of each year.

Approved by the membership September 9, 2004