ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be: The Lakes Association of Norway, Maine (LAON).
ARTICLE II – DESCRIPTION
The Association shall be a non-profit non-political organization.
ARTICLE III – PURPOSE
The purpose of the Association shall be to preserve, enhance and protect the health and beauty of the lakes of Norway and their adjacent areas.
The Association shall be non-political except that it shall work for the enactment of such legislation that would tend to preserve the lakes of Norway.
A. To raise money as necessary.
B. To institute legal action to protect the lakes of Norway.
C. To make chemical and other scientific tests.
D. To appear and testify at hearings of governmental administrative agencies.
E. To promote an understanding of the relationship between the quality of our lakes and the economic vitality of our community.
F. To do all other things necessary to preserve enhance and protect the lakes of Norway
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all persons interested in the purpose of the Association and who shall be current on annual dues.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
The Officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and a Treasurer who shall be elected at the annual meeting for a period of one year, or approximately so, from one annual meeting to the next.
ARTICLE VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
It is desired that the Board of Directors shall consist of –
The Officers of the Association.
A. Four representatives from Norway Lake.
B. Two representative from Hobbs Pond.
C. Two representative from Sand Pond.
D. Two representatives from North Pond.
E. Four directors-at-large.
F. Immediate past president.
ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
PRESIDENT – The President, and in his/her absence the Vice-President, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and Members. Should both the President and the Vice-President be absent for any meeting, the meeting shall be called to order by the Secretary and a Chairman pro tempore shall be chosen. The President shall have general supervision of all the affairs of the Association. He/she shall appoint all Committee Chairs. He/she shall cause to be called all regular and special meetings of the Members and the Board of Directors in accordance with these By-Laws. He/she shall present at each Annual Meeting of the Members a report on the condition, accomplishments, plans, problems and prospects of the Association. He/she shall sign and make all contracts and agreements on behalf of and in the name of the Association, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. He/she shall see that the books, reports, statements and certificates required by statutes are properly made, kept and filed according to law. In general, he/she shall enforce these By-Laws and perform all the duties incident to the position and office, which are required by law.
VICE-PRESIDENT – During the absence or inability of the President to render and perform his/her duties or exercise his/her powers, as set forth in these by-laws or in the acts under which this Association is organized, the same shall be performed and exercised by the Vice-President, and when so acting , he/she shall have all the powers and be subject to all the responsibilities and limitations hereby given to or imposed upon the President.
SECRETARY – The Secretary shall keep a record of business transacted at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Membership.
TREASURER – The Treasurer shall receive and collect all money due the Association from whatever source; shall make all disbursements, shall keep an account of all receipts and disbursements and submit a report of the same and of the financial condition of the Association at the Annual Meeting of the Members and , also to the Board of Directors any time he/she may be requested.
The Treasurer shall also keep a roll of the Members of the Association and their mailing addresses.
ARTICLE VIII – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
The nominating committee shall prepare and present a slate of Officers and Directors to the Members for vote at the annual meeting.
A. Election of Officers and Members of the Board of Directors shall occur at each annual meeting.
B. The President shall be elected first, followed by the Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Members of the Board of Directors.
C. The Nominating Committee shall nominate one individual for each office; thereafter the Chairman shall call for nominations from the floor.
D. A majority vote of the Members present and voting shall elect the Officers and Directors.
When a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors and/or of the Elected Officers in the interim period until the next annual meeting, the President shall nominate interim Directors/ Officers who shall serve until the next annual meeting. If the Office of the President is vacant the Vice-President shall make the nomination of an Interim President. The names of the nominated Interim Directors/Officers shall be communicated to the members of the board via email or at a meeting of the Board of Directors. A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of approving interim appointments . A majority of the Directors present at the meeting of the Board of Directors or responding to the email within ten (10) calendar days shall be sufficient to approve the appointment of Interim Directors/Officers to serve until the next annual meeting.
ARTICLE IX – MEETINGS
The annual meeting shall be held during June or July. Appointment of time and place for the annual meeting shall be decided by the President. Notice of the meeting shall be included in the Association Spring Newsletter. Also, notice shall be published by local newspapers, broadcast over local radio and local TV Channel 2 at least two weeks prior to the appointed time of the meeting.
Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President provided that members are notified in writing at least 7 calendar days prior to the time of the meeting. Business to be transacted at a special meeting shall be stated in the notice to members.
Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President at any time.
At all meetings, all motions shall be decided by a majority vote of the Members present.
ARTICLE X – DUES
Dues shall be established annually by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors and shall be payable at the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE XI – VOTING RIGHTS
All members in good standing shall possess the right of one vote on all matters put before the membership and in the election of Officers and Directors.
ARTICLE XII – COMMITTEES
A. There shall be a Nominating Committee.
B. The Board of Directors may establish as many standing or temporary committees as it deems necessary.
C. Membership of all committees shall be open to all Members of the Association.
D. The President shall appoint the chairs of all committees.
ARTICLE XIII – AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be altered, amended, repealed or added to by a majority vote of the Members present and voting at an annual or special meeting.
ARTICLE XIV – DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of the Association, the assets of the Association shall be disposed of by distribution to an organization, or organizations that enjoy exempt status in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Such distribution shall be determined by a majority vote of those Members present at the last meeting of the Association.
Bylaws as amended on June 30th, 2001, June 27th, 2015.