By-Laws
Michaux Forest Association

Revised June 2021

Article I
Preamble

1. The name of this association shall be Michaux Forest Association (“Association”).

2. The purpose of this organization shall be to bring together the holders of leased cabin/camp sites on Michaux State Forest (“Forest”) lands in Pennsylvania east of Shippensburg Road and north of Piney Mountain Ridge and/or within Pine Grove Furnace State Park (“Park”).

3. It shall be the mission of the Association to work in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration wherever possible with state and local government agencies which might have an impact on lease holdings in this area; to advocate on behalf of these leaseholders with regard to legislation, regulations, and policy which will affect lease holding; to promote an understanding of the environment and environmental issues; to seek a safer and more secure community through the patrol service and other security measures as needed; and to develop strategies for dealing with all matters pertinent to the community of leaseholders. The Association shall be dedicated to promoting the civic welfare and fostering a sense of community within the area and among the members that it represents.

Article II
Membership

1. Any person having a leased cabin/camp site on Michaux State Forest lands in Pennsylvania east of Shippensburg Road and north of Piney Mountain Ridge and/or within Pine Grove Furnace State Park may become a member. Also eligible for membership are the leaseholder's spouse and adult children.

2. Active members shall be all persons whose dues are currently paid. Such members shall have the right to vote at all General Membership Meetings. However, regardless of the number of memberships associated with one lease, the collective memberships for an individual lease shall have one vote to assure equal voting rights of each leaseholder.

3. The membership year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

Article III
Annual Dues

1. The annual dues of the Association shall be an amount set annually by the Board, and shall be payable prior to January 1st of each year.

2. Any member failing to pay his or her dues prior to January 1 shall be unable to vote or share in any personal privileges extended to members, until such payments are made.

3. Members falling in arrears shall automatically be removed from the membership rolls and membership list of the Association January 31st of the membership year.

Article IV
Board, Officers, and Executive Committee

1. The Board of the Association shall consist of no more than twelve (12) individuals comprised of members in good standing and representative of the Park and Forest areas from which members are drawn. The twelve (12) person Board shall consist of five (5) officers and seven (7) directors.

2. The five (5) officer positions of the Association shall be the following:

The Executive Committee shall consist of the five officers.

3. When a vacancy exists, the Board shall appoint a replacement Board member from the membership being careful, in so far as possible, to see that all areas of the Park and Forest are represented. Any interim replacement due to the vacancy of an officer or director position shall be approved by a quorum of the Board at any meeting scheduled in accordance with these By-Laws other than the Annual General Membership Meeting. Any interim replacement of an officer or director position must be approved by the general membership at the first Annual General Membership Meeting after the appointment of such individuals.

4. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee following January 1 of each year. This committee will nominate a slate of officers and directors as vacancies or expiring terms exist. The slate of nominated officers and directors will then be presented to the general membership for approval at the Annual General Membership Meeting.

5. Any member of the Association may submit the name of a member of the Association to fill any vacant positions on the Board. These nominations must be submitted to the Board or to the Nominating Committee no later than one month before the date of the next Annual General Membership Meeting.

6. Nomination and election of officers and directors shall be held at the end of each fiscal year. Officers, other than the Treasurer, shall hold office for a period of two (2) years and may hold the office for an additional two (2) years provided no candidate is found to suitably fill the position. However, the additional two year term must be approved at the Annual General Membership Meeting. The Treasurer shall hold office for a period of two years and may hold the office for additional two years terms upon approval at the General Membership Meetings at the end of each expiring term. No elected member of the Board may serve longer than eight (8) years at which time he or she must retire for a period of at least two (2) years before resuming a Board position.

7. Officer and director candidates shall be elected by the general membership at the Annual General Membership Meeting. The election may be by acclamation, but any five (5) members may demand a vote by ballot.

Article V
Duties of the Officers

1. President - It shall be the duty of the President to:

2. Vice-President - It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to:

3. Treasurer - It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to:

4. Secretary - It shall be the duty of the Secretary to:

5. Newsletter Editor - It shall be the duty of the Newsletter Editor to:

Article VI
Board Responsibilities

1. The Board shall:

2. Attendance - If any Board member shall fail to attend two meetings of the Board during the fiscal year or fail to participate in assigned responsibilities or assigned Board committees or otherwise indicate a lack of interest, the Board may upon due notice to him or her declare his or her office or Board membership vacant and appoint a successor to serve the unexpired term.

Quorum - Seven (7) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

Article VII
Advisory Board and Committees

1. Advisory Board - There shall be an Advisory Board consisting of all past Presidents of the Association. This Advisory Board shall have the right to participate in, but not vote on, all proceedings of the Board.

2. Committees - There shall be three standing committees each chaired by a member of the Board. Additional members for each committee may be taken from the general membership. Committee members shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board. The committees are:

Article VIII
Annual General Membership Meetings

1. The Association shall hold its Annual General Membership Meeting at Pine Grove Furnace no later than June 30th of each year. The date, place, and time shall be specified in the Spring newsletter or other general written communication.

2. Special meetings of the general membership may be called by the President, the Executive Committee or upon written request of any five (5) members of the Association in good standing directed to the President for approval and/or approved by the Board. Such written requests must state clearly the purpose of the proposed meeting. The general membership must receive written notice at least two weeks in advance of such a meeting. All members attending a meeting must conduct themselves properly while the meeting is in session. All members must at all times recognize the chair.

3. Ten (10) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.

Article IX
Order of Business
Annual General Membership Meeting

1. The Order of Business:

2. Installation - The installation ceremonies for newly elected officers and directors may be performed by a member designated by the Executive Committee, as having been bestowed the highest honor of being Installation Officer or by any past President in case of a vacancy in this honorable capacity.

3. Ceremonies - The Installing Officer says:

    Do you hereby pledge on your honor to perform the duties of your respective offices and to bear truthful allegiance as required by the By-Laws of this Association? To deliver all books, papers, and other property of this organization that may be in your possession at the end of your term to your successor in office, and at all times conduct yourself as becomes an officer or director of this Association?

Officers and directors respond: I do

Installing Officer concludes:

    Your duties are defined in the By-Laws of the Michaux Forest Association and I trust you will all faithfully perform your duties so that you may gain not only the esteem of your fellow members, but what is of even more importance, the approval of your own conscience. You will now assume your respective offices.

Article X
Rules and Regulations

1. The Board shall have the power to make such rules and regulations as it may deem proper in accord with the spirit and purpose of the Association and in conformity with the rulings and Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Such rules and regulations when adopted from time to time, shall have the force of the By-Laws.

2. Members shall be notified of new rules and regulations in the first Association newsletter after implementing the changes or at the first Annual General Membership Meeting (if the changes occur after the publication of the Spring newsletter, but prior to the Annual General Membership Meeting) and said rules and regulations shall be attached to the By-Laws.

Article XI
Amendments of the By-Laws

1. These By-Laws were considered and approved at the Annual General Membership Meeting of the Michaux Forest Association held during the month and year designated as the revision date of page one of these By-Laws

2. To change these By-Laws, the proposed amendment must be in writing, signed by at least five (5) members in good standing and given to the Secretary in sufficient time to notify each member of the Board of the proposed change, one (1) week before a regular meeting of the Board, where the proposed amendments will be presented and discussed. The By-Laws may then be amended at any Annual General Membership Meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present.

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