Michigan Aquatic Managers Association: Mission

The purpose of the Association shall be to assist in promoting the management of aquatic vegetation, to provide for the scientific and educational advancement of members, to encourage scientific research, to promote an exchange of information among members, to extend and develop public interest in the discipline, and to participate in any Legislative procedures at any level of government that oversees the use and/or enforcement of the laws, regulations, policies, guidance, and funding governing the use of aquatic pesticides or other forms of aquatic plant management in the waters of the State of Michigan.

ARTICLE III

Section A. All memberships shall be subject to the approval of the officers of the Association. There shall be the following classes of membership:

a) Active Member: Any person representing a company or organization specializing, solely or in part, in aquatic plant management interested in the advancement of the Association and its goals.

b) Associate Member: Any additional person representing a company or organization that is currently an Active Member.

c) Retired Member: Any Active Member who has held ten (10) or more years of prior membership and is retired from active professional duties. Application should include dates of initial membership and retirement from active service.

Section B. All Active and Retired Members in good standing with current dues paid in full shall have the right to one (1) vote. Associate Members do not vote unless as a designated proxy for an Active Member.

ARTICLE IV

Section A. All directors and officers shall be active members in good standing. The officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section B. President: The President shall preside at all business meetings of the Association. The President shall discharge such other duties as usually pertains to such office and upon completion of his/her term. The President shall approve payments and disbursements that are necessary to the operation of the Association.

Section C. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President in the absence, disability, or a vacancy in the office of President. He/she shall also perform such duties as may be assigned by the President. Vice President or his/her designee shall also attend the annual meeting of the Aquatic Plant Management Society and act as the authorized representative of the Association. The Vice-President shall succeed to President upon ratification of the Active Members present and voting if the President resigns before his/her term expires.

Section D. Secretary: The Secretary shall keep complete minutes of all meetings of the Association. He/she is responsible for the maintenance of membership records and roster and shall issue notices of meetings and conduct such correspondence as is usually conducted by such office of similar organizations.

Section E. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and receipt all income and deposit promptly all funds of the Association in such depository as approved and designated by the officers of the Association. The Treasurer, upon approval by the President, shall sign checks in payment of obligations of the Association and he/she shall pay all bills and make such other disbursements as necessary to the operations of the Association. He/she shall make a true and full report of the financial condition of the Association at meetings, if necessary. He/she shall provide for an audit of all books and fiscal documents of the Association by the Internal Audit Committee on an annual basis. The financial statement as prepared during the audit shall be included as part of the annual proceedings of the Association.

Section F. Members-At-Large: The Members-At-Large shall assist in administering the affairs of the Association as directed by an officer.

ARTICLE V

The officers of the Association, being President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall hold office for two (2) years. All officers may succeed themselves as voted by the members.

ARTICLE VI

Officers of the Association shall be elected by simple majority vote of the voting members present at the annual meeting at the conclusion of the officers 2 year term. Newly elected officers will begin their duties at the close of the meeting at which they are elected. Vacancies in the office of President between terms shall automatically be filled through succession in the following order: Vice- President, Secretary, and then Treasurer. The President shall fill all other vacancies except President through appointment.

ARTICLE VII

A quorum for any meeting of the Association shall consist of not less than five (5) voting members, or 10% of the membership, whichever is smaller and at least two (2) of whom shall be officers of the Association.

ARTICLE VIII

All motions and resolutions presented at any meeting of the Association involving matters of policy, administration, or business shall be referred to the officers of the Association who shall consider the same and report the recommendation back to the Association. Should any matter require immediate action by the Association, such matters may be considered immediately by consent of the majority of the active members present and voting.

ARTICLE IX

Section A. At a minimum, there shall be an annual meeting of the Association for the election of officers, the presentation and discussion of pertinent information on aquatic plant management, legislative issues, and related subjects and such other business as may be properly brought before it. Such annual meeting shall be held in such time and place as the officers of the Association may decide. At least thirty (30) day’s notice shall be given to all members as to time and place of the annual meeting.

Section B. Special meetings of the Association may be held whenever the officers of the Association deems such meetings necessary or whenever five (5) or more active members shall make a written request thereof presented to the Secretary. Such request shall be placed with the officers of the Association, which shall designate a time and place for such special meeting. The Secretary shall give written notice of all special meetings of the Association to all members at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of such special meeting.

ARTICLE X

The fiscal year of the Association shall be the calendar year January 1^st through December 31st.

ARTICLE XI

The annual dues and special assessments of members shall be determined by a majority vote of the membership at the Annual meeting, upon recommendation of the officers of the Association. The full payment of dues by members shall be paid within 90 days to be considered “in good standing” with the Association. Any member who has not paid the required dues and/or special assessment dues within 90 days of receiving a request for dues payment (invoice, etc…) shall no longer be considered “in good standing” with the Association and is not eligible to vote. A member may be dismissed from the Association by simple majority vote if past dues are not paid by the end of that fiscal year (December 31^st).

Active Members $200.00 paid yearly

ARTICLE XII

COMMITTEES

Standing committees shall be recommended by the President and approved by the officers of the Association to serve during his/her term as President of the Association. Standing Committees are as follows:

1.)      By-laws Committee: This committee shall consist of not less than two (2) members.
2.)      Executive Committee: This committee shall consist of not less than two (2) members one of which must be an officer of the
       Association.
3.)      Internal Audit Committee: This committee shall consist of at least two (2) members who shall audit the books and fiscal documents of         the Association annually, prior to the annual meeting.

4.) Legislative Committee: This committee shall consist of not less than two (2) members.

5.) Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the immediate Past President and consist of not less than two (2) members, who shall recommend to the Association candidates for election to the offices of the Association.

6.) Science Advisory Committee: This committee shall consist of not less than two (2) members.

7.) Special Committee(s): This committee(s) can be determined as needed for the conduct of Association business.

8.) Web Page Committee: This committee shall consist of as many members as may be appointed by the committee chair.

ARTICLE XIII

AWARDS

The Executive Committee shall establish and present awards as deemed appropriate to further the purpose and goals of the Association.

ARTICLE XIV

Business sessions of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE XV

These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Active and Retired Members present at any annual meeting, provided the notice of the proposed amendment has been given in writing to the Secretary and transmitted by him/her to such members thirty (30) days before the annual meeting. Associate Members do not vote unless as a stand in for an Active Member.

ARTICLE XVI

The Association shall have perpetual existence, but if dissolved, its assets shall be donated to a non-profit organization for research on aquatic vegetation, which will be selected by the last officers of the Association.

The above and foregoing by-laws of the Michigan Aquatic Managers Association have been adopted on March 11, 2006.


	Dedicated to the Professoinal Management of Michigan's Aquatic Resources