Proposed for adoption at the September meeting of the Council:
BY  LAWS  FOR
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF  VOLUSIA AND FLAGLER COUNTIES
                            ARTICLE   I   --    Name
Section 1:   The name of this organization shall be the Environmental Council of Volusia and Flagler Counties.
                            ARTICLE   II   --    Purpose
Section 1:    This Environmental Council exists to preserve, protect and restore the natural resources of Volusia and Flagler Counties
                             ARTICLE   III   --   Objectives
Section 1:     The Environmental Council shall provide a means for the exchange of environmental information and developing a unified voice between and among members, groups and individuals having an interest in protecting the environment.
Section 2:    The Environmental Council shall prepare and present recommendations to organizations and governmental bodies, including recommendations for additions to and changes of laws and regulations.
Section 3:    The Environmental Council shall provide a means for the dissemination of environmental information to schools, governmental bodies, clubs, citizens and the media.
                              ARTICLE   IV     --    Council Year
Section 1:    The Council operating and fiscal year shall begin June 1.
                              ARTICLE   V     --    Membership
Section 1:     Individuals having an interest in protecting and restoring the environment shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2:     Any Organization/Group in Volusia & Flagler Counties with an interest in protecting and restoring the environment shall be eligible for membership.
Section 3:     Every Group is expected to name an official Representative to the Environmental Council to speak and vote on behalf of its group at Environmental Council meetings.  An alternate may be sent if the official Representative cannot attend a meeting.
Section 4:   Each Group and Individual that wishes to join must fill out a membership application and pay dues.
                               ARTICLE   VI    --    Officers
Section 1:   The affairs of the Environmental Council shall be managed by five officers:  President, Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, and Recording Secretary; and four (4) at-large Board members.  These shall constitute the Executive Board.
                              ARTICLE   VII    --    Elections
Section 1:  The Executive Board shall be elected as follows:
A nominating committee shall be appointed two meetings prior to election and shall report at the next regular meeting.  Additional nominations may be received from the floor.
Section 2:   Terms of office shall be from June 1 - May 31.
Section 3:   All officers shall have been an Individual member or Group Representative in the Environmental Council for at least eight (8) months and missed no more than two (2) meetings prior to the beginning of the term of office.  A Group Representative shall become an Individual member if and when he or she is elected to office.
Section 4:   Officers and four (4) at-large Board members shall be elected by written ballot annually by all the members present at the May meeting.
Section 5:   A majority of those members voting shall be necessary to elect.  In the event no candidate receives a majority, there will be a runoff between the top two vote getters immediately following the first vote.
Section 6:   In the event that an office is vacated at any time between elections, the Executive Board may name a successor, subject to approval by the Council, until the office is filled by a regular election.
                               ARTICLE   VIII   --   Duties of Officers
Section 1:   The President shall:
   1.  Preside at all meetings and serve as Chairman of the Executive Board. He shall call meetings to order on time and limit discussion to pertinent
topics.
   2.  Be an ex-officio nonvoting member of all Working Groups.
   3.  Represent the Environmental Council when and where necessary and be the spokesperson for the Council.  However, any Member may be assigned by the Executive Board to speak for the Council at a particular venue or to the press.
Section 2:    The Vice President shall:
  1.  Succeed to the President in case of absence or vacancy.
   2.  Perform such duties as assigned by the President.
Section 3:   The Recording Secretary shall:
  1.  Maintain the general records, including minutes.
   2.  Report the minutes of the Executive Board and membership meetings.
   3.  Keep and provide to the Executive Board an accurate list of members, including addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
Section 4:    The Corresponding Secretary shall:
  1.  Be responsible for written communication with government agencies, staff and policy makers.  The President may assign some correspondence to other members or working groups.
   2.  Report all correspondence to and from the Environmental Council to the Executive Board and membership.
Section 5:    The Treasurer shall:
   1.  Carry out the financial transactions of the Environmental Council.
   2.  Keep accurate records of all transactions.
   3.  Deposit dues and monetary gifts and grants in an Environmental Council bank account
.  4.  Be responsible for non-monetary assets and gifts.
   5.  Make available monthly reports to the Executive Board and membership.
                             ARTICLE   IX  --   Executive Board
Section 1:    The Executive Board shall administer the policy of the Environmental Council as set by the Group Representatives at the monthly Council meetings.  It shall have the power to act for the good of the Environmental Council in emergency situations.
Section 2:     The President shall be the chairperson of the Executive Board. The Vice-President shall serve as chairperson in the absence of the President.
Section 3:     All members of the Executive Board have voting powers. Five members shall constitute a quorum.  Majority vote shall be a minimum of four (4) members.
Section 4:    Every member of the Environmental Council is eligible to hold office.
Section 5:     The Executive Board shall develop the annual budget for approval by the Council.  The budget may be amended at any time with the approval of the Council.
Section 6:     The Executive Board shall employ such persons as it shall deem necessary to implement established policy, and enforce their conditions of employment.  Such action shall require a majority vote of the Executive Board present.
Section 7:     Any member of the Environmental Council in good standing may request to appear before the Executive Board to make proposals or to voice complaints.  The Executive Board shall be required to place this member on the agenda of the first Executive Board meeting following the request, providing the request comes at least one (1) week before the meeting.
Section 8:    The Executive Board shall make available to the membership its minutes and financial reports by web site with a password or other appropriate means.
                              ARTICLE   X   --    Meetings
Section 1:     Meetings of the Environmental Council shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.
Section 2:     Meetings shall be held monthly at a time and place established by the Executive Board.
Section 3:     Executive Board meetings shall be held monthly at a time and place established by the Executive Board.  Members shall be welcome to attend Board meetings.
Section 4:     Emergency meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President or by 50% of the Executive Board.  Reasonable effort will be made to notify all members of the Executive Board and membership.
Section 5:     If necessary, Executive Board business may be conducted via internet or phone.  The action shall be recorded in the minutes of the next meeting.
Section 6:     At the monthly Environmental Council meetings the Group Representatives shall have the power to establish or change the policy of the Environmental Council with a 2/3 vote of those present.
Section 7:    The Executive Board may not overrule any decision of the Council.
                          ARTICLE   XI    --    Working Groups
Section 1:     Ad hoc committees/working groups may be appointed by the President as necessary.
Section 2:     The President shall be a nonvoting ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 3:     Each committee, through its chairman, shall report to a meeting of the Executive Board or to a Council meeting, as directed.
                           ARTICLE    XII   --   Finance
Section 1.    Dues for Individuals shall be $10.00 per year. Dues for Groups shall be $25 per year.
Section 2:    Any person contributing $25.00 per year shall be known as a Patron.  Contributors of $50.00 per year shall be known as Benefactors.
Section 3.    All dues shall be due at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Section 4.    The fiscal year shall be June 1 - May 31.
                           Article    XIII    --     Amendments
Section 1:    An amendment to these bylaws may be proposed by either:
   1.  A majority of the Executive Board.
   2.  Presentation to the Executive Board by no fewer than 10% of the membership.
Section 2:    The proposed amendments shall be submitted at the first regular meeting following receipt by the Executive Board by being read to the assembled members.
Section 3.    A  2/3 vote of members present shall be necessary for ratification of the amendment.

  Prepared by the Environmental Council Executive Board August  20, 2003
                                       Adopted  (date)
 

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