ELRC By-Laws

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1. Purpose:

   The purpose of this Council shall be to provide an opportunity of the sharing of information among public land managers of the United States.  The purpose of this Council is:

   1. To encourage development of sound federal and state public land management policies;
   2. To educate other state associations and individuals about the problems of eastern states and how federal, state and local policies, statutes, laws and ordinances affect the day-to-day management of our public lands.
   3. To promote the general policies of conservation and management of public lands consistent with the nation's health, safety, and welfare.
   4. To plan and implement strategies to achieve the goals of sound public land management which may include such activities as education, legislation and general communication.
2. Meetings

   This council shall meet at least once annually for a regular Spring meeting in Washington, DC. IN addition, a Fall conference may also be held at a site to be selected by the Executive Committee.

   Other meetings shall be held as may be agreeable to the members of the Council or upon the call of the Executive Committee of the Council. In the event a change in the meeting site is required due to some unforeseen circumstances, the site of the meeting my be changed by the President of the Council.

   The registration fee for each conference shall be approved by the Executive Committee. Such approval shall be sought through the President who will poll the Board in writing or by phone. The host state is authorized to expend the registration fees as deemed appropriate. Upon conclusion of the meeting or conference, the host state shall, within 60 days, send an accounting of how the registration fees were expended to the Treasurer for the record. The President or his designee shall be responsible for sending to the Treasurer an accounting of the Spring Meeting in Washington, DC.

3. Duties and Tenure of Office

   The tenure of office for any officer of the Council shall be for two (2) years beginning on the date of election of such officer or until a successor is elected. Election shall be held at the regular Spring Meeting or upon the vacancy of any office at the next meeting of the Council. The president may appoint a member as actin officer to any office which becomes vacant. The duties of the officers are:

   1. President
      1. The President shall be Chief Executive Officer of the Council.
      2. The President shall preside over all meetings and appoint committee members, except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws.
      3. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
      4. The President shall perform all the normal and customary duties of the office including presiding over all meetings of the Council.
      5. The President shall submit an annual budget for consideration by the Executive Committee at the Fall Conference. The budget shall not expire until the Executive Committee meeting at the next Fall Conference.
   2. Vice President

      There shall be a First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Third Vice President; the duties of each are set below:

      1. First Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in his/her absence and shall serve as Chairperson for the purpose of coordinating activities of special committees. In addition, a function of the First Vice President shall be to recruit additional states to the Council, to encourage affiliation with other federal and state associations and to develop associate memberships with various industrial and business interests.
      2. Second Vice President shall serve as Chairperson of the Legislative Committee and shall advise members of the association of pending federal and state legislation which may be of interest to member states
      3. Third Vice President shall serve as Chairperson for the purpose of coordinating the work of standing committees and shall be responsible for the development of issues.
   3. Secretary
      1. The Secretary shall keep the official records of the Council.
      2. The Secretary shall record all votes of the members on all matters before the Council.
      3. The Secretary shall transmit any final resolutions and other materials upon the direction of the Council.
   4. Treasurer
      1. The Treasurer shall credit all receipts to a commercial demand or savings account in the name of the Council.
      2. The Treasurer shall sign all payments and is authorized to expend funds consistent with the approved budget when properly justified and documented.
      3. All non-budgeted expenditures shall first be approved by a majority vote of the Council or Executive Committee. Such approval may be obtained at a meeting, by mail, or by a conference call. The votes shall be recorded by the Secretary and show up on the minutes of the next meeting for the record. The treasurer shall make note of the form of approval for all non-budgeted expenditures.
      4. The Treasurer shall keep a record of these financial determinations, and shall prepare a financial report containing all pertinent data to be issued and distributed to each member state thirty (30) days prior to the Council's regular meeting.
      5. The Treasurer shall, upon request, furnish a current report for the Executive Committee.
      6. The Treasurer shall have the authority to invest surplus demand funds in U.S. Government securities, or in commercial savings accounts, which provide a maximum interest return to the Council. Up to 50% of these investments may be made in the name of the Council for periods not to exceed five (5) years; the balance in shorter term securities with the interest accruing to the Council's demand account.
4. Committees:

   Employees of member states may be appointed to serve on any standing or special committee. Each committee member will have full voting rights except in situations where a state has more than one member on the same committee. IN such cases, the votes shall be weighted so that no state shall have more than one vote.

   Committee members shall be appointed by the President, however, anyone may make recommendations; the Executive Committee may, by majority vote, add members to any committee except the Executive Committee itself. There shall be no set number for committee membership.

   Special committees may be formed and charged as necessary by the President. The standing committees of the Council shall be as follows:

   1. Executive Committee

      This Committee shall consist of th4e President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President. The president may appoint one (1) additional member at large. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to transact business affecting the policy or procedure of the Council when the Council is not in session, The Executive Committee shall report all business conducted to the Council at the next regular meeting.

      This Committee shall also choose for consideration by the membership the site of the regular meeting for two (2) years hence, the site for the upcoming Midwinter conference, and receive confirmation of the site for the next regular meeting. Program and site arrangements are the responsibility of the hosting state and the Executive Committee.

   2. Resolutions and Legislative Committee:

      This Committee, chaired by the Second Vice President shall revise or draft all resolutions as submitted or directed by the membership for action by the Council and make recommendations thereon.

   3. Nominating Committee

      This Committee shall consist of the President and a member-at-large, who is not an officer and who shall be appointed by the President. At the regular Spring Meeting of the Council, the Committee shall meet and nominate candidates for the offices of the Council. The committee shall also meet at such other times at the call of the President at other duly organized meetings to nominate members for vacant offices. The nominating Committee shall take a proactive posture in making committee membership recommendations to the President.

   4. Submerged Lands Committee:

      The purpose of the Submerged Lands Committee is to bring together land managers and submerged lands managers to deal with issues that affect lands/submerged lands areas. In addition, this Committee will coordinate with the Submerged Lands Committee of the Western States Land Commissioners Association. These issues include, but are not limited to, public trust rights in submerged lands, superjacent waters and adjacent uplands; development extending below the high or low water mark as appropriate; use of lands lying beneath water bodies owned and/or controlled by state/provincial/federal governments, including the water column above these lands; and relevant coastal zone management,water, air, and land quality issues.

5. Quorum:

   A majority of the member states present shall constitute a quorum.

6. Conduct of Meetings:

   The organization shall follow Robert's Rules of Order Revised in conducting all of its meetings and committee meetings.

7. Voting:

   Each member state shall designate one (1) representative who shall vote at the meetings of the organization; however, should the duly appointed representative be unable to attend or be present at any session, another representative from that state may be appointed to represent the state and vote during such absence by notification by the Secretary.

8.   Membership:
   1. The membership of the Eastern Lands and Resources Council shall include, but shall not be limited to, all the states adjacent to and east of the Mississippi River.

      A state shall become a member of the Council by paying the annual dues to the Treasurer upon receipt of the annual dues statement.

   2. Associate Membership Non-Voting:

      Non-profit organizations which promote public lands management and records-related activities may apply for membership to the Council. A candidate for membership in the Council shall submit a written request for membership containing the name, address, and telephone number of the duly appointed representative of that organization. All business and professional memberships shall be approved by the membership of the Council.

       

9. Annual Dues

   Each member state shall pay annual dues in the amount of $500 per year. The Treasurer shall invoice each member state no later than June 1 of each year payable no later than September 1 of the same year. Associate members shall bay $600 annual dues.

10. Amendments:

    These By-Laws may be amended, altered or repealed in the following manner:

    1. A request may be presented in writing at a regular meeting with a quorum present.
    2. The request must be presented by a member of the Council and must be supported with the reasons therefor.
    3. The amendment shall be presented and voted upon at a regular meeting and shall be considered passed and approved if two-thirds (2/3) of the members present shall vote in favor of the amendment. When passed, amendments shall go into effect immediately.
11. Dissolution:

    This Council may be dissolved by the vote of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members. In the event of dissolution, the financial assets of the Council shall be divided in equal amounts to all member states.