Periodically, WALPA evaluates its financial health as a non-profit organization. The Financial Review Ad Hoc Committee has found that our current financial trajectory is unsustainable and has proposed annual membership dues as a way to help stabilize our finances. However, to do this, our bylaws must be amended to reflect these changes. A member vote will be held at the WALPA business meeting on October 9, 2024 at the 2024 OLA/WALPA Joint Lakes Conference, in accordance with our bylaws.
The revised bylaws (with proposed changes noted) and the current bylaws can be found here. These changes have been approved by the WALPA Board of Directors, in accordance with our current bylaws.
The changes are summarized below:
- Article IV (Membership);
- A definition of what a member is (Section B);
- Addition of language that allows WALPA to expel or suspend a member (Section C) – this is in line with bylaws from similar organizations, giving us some recourse for member actions that are not consistent with our mission;
- Addition of language that allows members to resign(Section C);
- Clarification of individual vs organization/lake association membership (Section D);
- Clarification that membership is based on the calendar year (Section E);
- Membership dues (Section F);
- Voting (Section G);
- Article XVI (Amendment Procedures);
- Specifically allowing for a standalone electronic vote on bylaw amendments.
Please come to the October conference in Portland and vote on the bylaw changes!
