MOWRA By-Laws

BY-LAWS

1996

ARTICLE I.

The principal office of the Association shall be located at 4300 Faussett Road, Howell, Michigan 48843-9242. The executive committee of the Association from time to time may move the principal office to any other address.

ARTICLE II.

The purposes for which the Association is formed are as follows:

(a) To improve the condition of the onsite sewage treatment industry by working toward the establishment of uniform standards for quality design, installation and servicing of all types of onsite sewage treatment systems.

(b) To establish throughout Michigan a relationship among all those concerned with the onsite sewage treatment industry that will increase the flow of information, not only among members of this association, but among all organizations, agencies and individuals having allied objectives and purposes.

(c) To compile and to disseminate statistics, actual experiences and other facts affecting the onsite sewage treatment industry.

(d) To inform and education members of the general public concerning the value of recycling wastewater and of the need for properly designed and maintained onsite sewage treatment systems.

(e) To protect the public health and environment of people in Michigan by assisting the development of sound ecological and disease prevention practices in the manufacture, installation and maintenance of onsite sewage treatment systems.

(f) To unite in common organization those professionally engaged in the onsite sewage treatment industry.

(g) To formulate and maintain ethical standards for the guidance of its members in their relations with each other and with the public.

ARTICLE III.

Section 1. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any member or officer of the Association, nor to the benefit of any private individual.

Section 2. In the event of the dissolution of the Association, the residual assets of the Association will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are non-profit organizations.

ARTICLE IV.

Section 1. The Association shall have two classes of membership; (1) Full Membership, and (2) Regulatory Membership. The power to admit persons to membership in the Association shall be vested in the executive committee.

Section 2. A person admitted as a Full or Regulatory Member of the Association usually shall be and remain:

(a) A person engaged in the design, manufacture, installation, repair or maintenance of onsite sewage treatment systems; or

(b) A person engaged in the design, manufacture, wholesale supply, distribution or sale of components used in the manufacture, installation, repair or maintenance of onsite sewage treatment systems; or

(c) A person who is a representative of the septic tank industry; or

(d) A person who is an engineer, research professional, consultant or member of the soil science or other education faculty of an accredited academic institution; or

(e) A person who is a member or employee of a governmental regulatory agency having jurisdiction over any aspect of the onsite sewage treatment industry; or

(f) A person described in Article IV, Section 2(a)-(e) above who is retired.

Section 3. The executive committee may admit other persons seeking a wider knowledge of onsite wastewater treatment.

Section 4. The continuance of membership in the Association shall be conditioned on the payment of annual dues. The amount of dues shall be fixed from time to time by a two-thirds vote of the executive committee present at a meeting of the executive committee at which a quorum is present. The amount of the dues required to be paid may vary by class of membership but shall be uniform within a class. All applications for membership shall be submitted to a member of the executive committee.

Section 5. Any member failing to pay dues within ninety (90) days after the due date shall automatically be dropped from membership. Any person dropped from membership for failing to pay dues may request reinstatement. The request for reinstatement must be accompanied by dues for the current year plus a reinstatement fee of $5.00

ARTICLE V.

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be the President, President-elect, Vice-president, and Secretary-treasurer, each of whom shall be a member of the Association. The officers shall form the executive committee of the Association.

Section 2. Nominations for elective offices shall be made by the nominations committee. Elections shall be held by mail ballot. Nominations must be submitted to the Secretary-treasurer by October 1 and a ballot distributed by October 15 and returned by the second Tuesday in November. Prior consent of the nominees must be obtained before placing their names on the ballot.

Section 3. The term of office of officers shall be from January 1 through December 31.

Section 4. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association, appoint members to standing and temporary committees, and all other duties incident to the office.

Section 5. The Vice-president shall perform the duties of President in the absence of the President.

Section 6. The Secretary-treasurer shall (a) keep the minutes and the past records of the Association, (b) conduct the Association’s correspondence, (c) keep a list of the mailing addresses of each member, (d) be custodian of all monies received by the Association and of its financial record.

Section 7. The President-elect shall become President at the expiration of the term of office of the President.

ARTICLE VI.

Section 1. The executive committee shall handle routine and emergency Association business and manage the affairs and funds of the Association between regular or special Association meetings and shall report their actions at the next regular or special meeting and in the newsletter of the Association. It shall arrange for place, time, date and program of all annual or special meetings.

Section 2. The nominations committee shall consist of the immediate past-president as chairperson, and two other members in good standing. The two members shall be appointed by the President.

ARTICLE VII.

The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on January 1 of each year and shall end on December 31 of each year.

ARTICLE VIII.

Section 1. The annual meeting of the membership of the Association shall be held at a time and place to be designated by the executive committee. Notice of the annual meeting shall be included in the Newsletter at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 2. At least twenty percent (20%) of the voting membership of the Association shall constitute a quorum at meetings.

Section 3. All business meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 4. When necessary, the executive committee may choose to conduct Association business by mail ballot of the membership. A simple majority or plurality, as the case may be, of those voting shall decide an issue.

ARTICLE IX.

These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new by-laws may be adopted, by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, or by a two-thirds vote of those voting by means of a mail ballot.