BYLAWS FOR FINCH LAKE ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE 1 - NAME AND ORGANIZATION

Section 1. This organization shall be known as the Finch Lake Association, a non-profit  organization of Marcellus and Volinia Townships, Cass County, Michigan.

Section 2. The fiscal year of this Association shall be the calendar year, January 1st to December 31st.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

Section 1. The organization of an association to be operated for the purpose of the conservation of Finch Lake.

Section 2. This Association shall promote the education of riparian property owners and other lake users about good care and conservation of Finch Lake.

Section 3. The Association shall operate without profit, shall be non-political, and non-sectarian.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in the Association shall be limited to riparian property owners on the lake and persons who own property with legal access to the lake. A person who has negotiated a contract to purchase riparian property or property with legal access to the lake shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2. The term “member” is defined as either one person or a family unit. For purposes of voting, the individuals whose names are recorded on the deed shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 3. Each member of this Association shall be equally privileged with all other members in his/her voice and vote upon any policy or proposition presented for discussion or decision at any meeting of the members.

Section 4. The membership year is from June 1 through May 31 of the following year.

Section 5. The annual dues are payable to the treasurer on June 1 of each year. Dues shall become delinquent if not paid by September 1 of each calendar year. A delinquent member shall be ineligible to attend meetings of the Association, and shall be removed from the membership list if the delinquent dues are not paid within a 30 day grace period.

Section 6. Any member who shall reflect discredit upon this Association may be removed from membership by 2/3 vote of the entire membership of the Board of Directors of the Association. Written notice shall be mailed to the member 30 days prior to any action taken by the Board. A hearing before the Board shall be provided if requested by the member of the Association.

Section 7. The cost of the yearly dues of each member of the Association shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors with respect to need.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. They shall be elected by majority vote of the membership attending the Annual Meeting, and shall hold office for succeeding two years or until their successors are elected. They shall take office at the time of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected.

Section 2. The officers shall serve without compensation and will devote their time and efforts for the public interest.

Section 3. In case of death or resignation of the President, the Vice President shall at once assume his/her title and duties. The vacancy in the office of Vice President shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. In case of death or resignation of any other officer, his/her office shall be immediately filled by appointment by the president with a majority of the members of the Board concurring.

Section 4. Any officer or director becoming ineligible to membership in the Association shall automatically forfeit his/her office and such vacancy shall be filled in the same procedure as stated above.

Section 5. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors, and shall cast the deciding vote in case of a tie. The Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside at the meetings of the Association and perform all other duties of the President. The Treasurer shall receive all monies paid to the Association and shall keep an accurate record of the members and their financial status in the Association. He/she shall disburse such monies as approved by the Board of Directors. All expenditures of the Association shall be by check from the Association account.

Section 6. The treasurer shall make an oral report of the financial status of the Association at each meeting of the Association and of the Board of Directors and a written statement of cash receipts and disbursements shall be prepared annually and made available to the membership at the Annual Meeting. All monies paid to the Association shall be deposited by the treasurer in the bank account of the Association.

Section 7. All Association checks are to be signed by both the Treasurer and President. 

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

Section 1. The annual Meeting of the Association shall be held on the 3rd Saturday of June at 10:00 A.M. (EDST) Notice of every annual meeting of the Association shall be posted by sign on the road approximately 14 days before the annual meeting.

Section 2. Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Board of Directors, written request of the President, or by one-third of the voting members of the Association in good standing. They shall make a written request to the President for the same, specifying the object of the meeting. Two weeks written notice of such special meeting shall be given to the members.

Section 3. At membership meeting, not less than 15 of the actual members of the Association present shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI - THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall meet one month prior to the Annual Meeting of the Association. Special meetings will be called as required.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the four duly elected officers and 5 Directors elected at large from the membership. Director’s terms will be staggered, dropping one each year and electing a new director for 5 years.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall have the power to manage all of the affairs of the Association on any and all questions relating in any manner whatsoever. Each and all contracts are not to exceed $500.00 necessary for the proper transaction of business. They shall have entire jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the care, conduct, control, supervision and management of the Association.

Section 4. All contracts exceeding $500.00 shall be approved by two-thirds of the Board of Directors.

Section 5. The board shall meet for the transaction of business at the call or in writing by the President or any two board members.

Section 6. At the annual meeting of the Association the Board of Directors shall make a full report of their proceedings during the preceding fiscal year and recommend such measures as they deem advisable.

ARTICLE VII - ORDER OF BUSINESS

All meetings of the membership and of the Board of Directors shall be as follows:

  • Call to order
  • Roll call of officers
  • Reading of the minutes
  • Report of officers
  • Report of committees
  • Unfinished business
  • Election of Officers (at annual mtg)
  • New business
  • Adjournment

 

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments may be made in writing to the Board of Director. They in turn will vote on the amendment. The amendment will then, if approved, be presented to the membership for a vote.

Updated June 2018 


Township Ordinance No. 1975-3 and Marcellus Township Ordinance No. 1975-2

It is unlawful, between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. to: a. operate a vessel at high speed, or b. operate a jet ski, or have in tow or otherwise assist in the propulsion of a person on water skiis, water sled, kite, surfboard or other similar contrivance. This is the way the formal ordinance reads. Also, it is a Michigan law that you cannot operate a boat at high speed within 100 feet of the shore.