Bylaws
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name shall be “Lake Michigan Stakeholders” unless vote to change by steering committee.
ARTICLE II: MISSION, VISION, AND TAGLINE
Mission
• Inspire and engage a community of stewards to champion the health and viability of the Lake Michigan basin.
Vision
• Lake Michigan and the natural and cultural resources of the basin are environmentally resilient and economically viable for present and future generations.
Tagline
• Wisconsin’s voice for Lake Michigan.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership Participation
We seek to involve all individuals, organizations, businesses, and government agencies in the Lake Michigan Basin who want to protect and restore the Lake Michigan watershed.
Each individual or organization may determine how much participation they will provide within the stakeholder group. However, members are expected to do the following:
• Attend LMS events
• Comment upon and approve Annual Action Plan
• Nominate Steering Committee Members
• Help set annual priorities through a LMS members annual survey assessment
• Share expertise, contribute and collaborate
• Explore opportunities that focus on synergistic partnerships
• Educate by sharing LMS messages
• Recruit new members
Steering Committee Participation
The Steering Committee is the principal decision-making body for the Lake Michigan Stakeholders. Members are expected to do the following:
• Attend face-to-face and teleconference meetings. Steering Committee members are expected to participate in at least three Steering Committee meetings per year.
• Prepare for meetings
• Participate in decision making
• Provide fiscal authority and responsibility
• Provide visioning and strategic planning
• Elect Co-Chairs and Secretary
• Develop press releases
• Recruit membership and fundraising
• Participate in and promote Lake Michigan Day
• Nominate and recruit nominations for the Champions of Conservation Awards
Steering Committee Structure
Our goal is to have diverse representation from the following potential groups with 8 - 15 members total.
Federal/State Agencies
Tribal Nations
County Governments
Municipal Governments
Special Districts
Research/Universities
Steering Committee Member Selection
Regional Planning Commissions Non-Governmental Organizations Fish & Game Clubs
Educational and Outreach Organizations Private Sector
Members-at-Large
Steering Committee Member Selection
• Nomination (both self-nomination and nomination by second party)
• Voted on by the existing Steering Committee
• Must be re-elected by the Steering Committee every two years
• Any Steering Committee member can run for Co-Chair
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers include two Co-Chairs and Secretary. It is the responsibility of the officers to know as much as possible about the organization’s origins, aims and purposes and to attend as much as is reasonably possible, all LMS meetings.
Co-Chairs are expected to do the following:
• Facilitate meetings
• Formulate and post agenda with decision points noted 3 days prior to meeting
• Facilitate networking and communication
• Coordinate fiscal authority and accountability
• Recruit LMS Membership
• Develop and distribute news releases
• Recruit Steering Committee Members
• Participate in Executive Committee planning meetings
Responsibilities of the Secretary with Co-Chairs:
• Complete and distribute meeting minutes
• Submits agendas three days prior to meetings
• Perform monthly updates on website
• Maintains mailing list
• Distributes news releases
Section 2. Co-Chairs elections are staggered electing one at the spring and one at the fall Steering Committee meeting. Co-Chairs shall hold office for a one-year term that is renewable annually.
Section 3. Vacancies. When a vacancy of Co-chair exists, any existing Steering Committee Member may receive nominations at least two weeks in advance of a scheduled meeting. These nominations shall be sent out to the membership with the regular meeting announcement, to be voted upon at the next steering committee meeting. Vacancies will be filled only to the end of the open term.
Section 4. Resignations. Resignations must be in writing and received by the Secretary.
ARTICLE V: MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings. The Steering Committee should meet up to six times per year. The broader Lake Michigan Stakeholders membership should meet at least three times per year: Spring and Fall Member Meetings and the annual Lake Michigan Day.
Frequency, date, and location of regular LMS steering committee meeting dates (both in-person and teleconference) will be established annually.
Agendas shall be developed by the steering committee and should at a minimum follow these guidelines:
1. Winter meetings: Approve Annual Action Plan and Endorse Recommended (by steering committee) Projects
2. Spring meetings: Project Reports and Review of Annual Assessment Survey
3. Fall meetings: Elect Steering Committee and Review Funding Opportunities
Section 2. Structure of meetings will be based on the following guidelines:
Ground Rules for Steering Committee Meetings:
1) Actively participate
2) Capture decision-making points
3) Don’t monopolize conversation
4) Adhere to meeting agenda
5) Respect group decision-making process and one another’s comments and ideas
6) Come prepared for meetings
7) Establish sub-committee meetings as needed
Process for Decision Making:
1) Strive for consensus as much as possible
2) If not consensus, then majority >50% of Steering Committee
3) Decision points need to be posted on meeting agenda
4) A quorum will be established as long as 1/3 of the attendees are on the Steering Committee 5) E-votes are allowed; directed e-mail will be sent out on specific issues/votes
6) Attendance – 3 consecutive, unexplained absences will allow the Steering Committee to consider replacements.
7) We will strive to e-mail Steering Committee minutes to LMS Steering Committee members and post agenda on website within 3 working days.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings can be called by any steering committee member.
Section 4. Notice. Notice of each meeting shall be given to the membership by either mail or electronic message (email). The notice shall state the date, time and place of the meeting and, if a special meeting, the purpose.
ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS
Section 1. The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of all active steering committee members present after being distributed to all members in writing at least three days prior. The proposed amendments are to be submitted to the membership in writing and read at one meeting prior to being voted upon.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES
Steering Committee Members are expected to participate in the following Committees:
• Development Committee
• Champions Selection Committee
• Lake Michigan Day Organizing Committee
• Spring and Fall Membership Meeting Planning Committee
• Communications Committee
ARTICLE VIII: IMPLEMENTATION OF PURPOSE
We will accomplish our mission by:
• Facilitating networking and collaborative cooperation;
• Reminding members that there is strength in numbers;
• Engaging with speakers that we would not have an opportunity to as individuals or small local groups; • Providing reliable science based guidance to LMS stakeholders for informed decision making. • Responding collectively to funding opportunities and grant notifications
The Lake Michigan Stakeholders make every attempt to align operational goals with current State and Federal goals as outlined in the Wisconsin Great Lakes Strategy and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. LMS members strive to move a significant number of additional implementation projects into a much more active phase with the aid of funding opportunities. LMS members seek implementation approaches that are flexible and adaptive, able to respond to the dynamic and evolving nature of funding availability, with the goal of implementing restoration and protection consistent with State and Federal Great Lakes restoration strategies.