LAKE HIAWATHA Association, Inc
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
Revised and Approved June 7, 2009
Constitution and By-Laws
Lake Hiawatha Association, Inc.
Article I
Section 1. The name by which the non‑profit corporation shall be known is "Lake Hiawatha Association, Inc.", hereafter referred to as the "Corporation", the "Association", or "LHA".
Section 2. The location of the principal office and headquarters of the Massachusetts Corporation is to be in Bellingham/Blackstone.
Section 3.The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are as follows: To promote and encourage the development of the residential colony known as Lake Hiawatha, located in the Towns of Bellingham and Blackstone in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to improve and better the conditions of the land owners at said Lake Hiawatha: to encourage athletic exercises and amusements, including boating, fishing and bathing; to develop and maintain beaches; to safeguard and protect the interests of the members and the land owners; to establish and maintain a place for holding meetings and social activities; to purchase, lease, hold, sell, convey, or otherwise acquire or dispose of real and personal property necessary or proper as prescribed by a legal vote at a properly called meeting; and in connection therewith to do anything permissible under Chapter 180 of the General Laws, and, these purposes shall include the right to apply for a license to sell alcoholic beverages.
Article II
Section 1. The membership of the Corporation is restricted to landowners or renters of dwellings at Lake Hiawatha as defined in Article II, Section 2. Any member in good standing has full membership rights.
Section 2. All persons owning or renting on any of the following streets shall constitute the current membership area and shall be eligible for Membership: Lakeshore, Bernier, Andrew, Indian Run, Pelletier, Marszalkowski, Scott Hill, Marcel, St. Germain, Cranberry Meadow, Saurnur, Spruce, Dube, Chestnut, Rockland Pheasant Hill, Quail Run, Partridge, Rogers, Birch Tree, Buffey, QuickRiver, and Bellingham (to #61)
Section 3. In order to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any general meeting, a member of the Association must be present at said meeting, have paid his/her dues in full at time of the meeting, be at least 18 years of age. A maximum of one (1) vote per paid membership is allowed
Section 4. Members shall be proposed for admission by paying dues for the current year
Section 5. The annual dues of the Association shall be ratified at a business meeting of the membership by a simple majority vote.
Section 6. Members one year in arrears in dues will lose their membership and must pay the current dues to be reinstated.
Article III
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of the Corporation shall be held on the first Sunday of June of each year at 10:00 AM. Election of officers will take place at this meeting. Notification of this meeting will appear in the May addition of the L.H.A. newsletter (hardcopy and website version). A member interested in running for an office, may submit intentions in writing anytime after by the April general meeting. A slate of known candidates will be published in the May newsletter, along with the election announcement. A declared candidate need not be present at the June meeting to run for election. Voting will be facilitated via paper ballot. Written ballot will be kept in the possession of the Secretary of the Corporation for a period of one (1) year and properly disposed of at the end of said period. Any member has the right to examine said ballots while in the possession of the Secretary. Paper ballots will be counted and tallied by two (2) officers of the Corporation at the Annual Meeting and results promptly announced at said meeting. A motion will be made to accept the results of the election. Once seconded and passed, election is final and newly-elected officers are officially installed.
Section 2. The regular meetings of the Corporation shall be held on the first Sunday of each month at 10:00 AM
Section 3. The Board of Directors may call a special meeting whenever they deem reasonable, necessary and prudent.
Section 4. The presence of seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum for any meeting.
Article III (continued)
Section 5. Robert's Rule of Order shall be the authority on Parliamentary Procedure for all general, annual and special meetings of the LHA:
a. Opening of the meeting by the President or assigned representative.
b. The doorkeeper assigned by the President verifies the attendance of all members in good standing.
c. Roll call of officers and members, and determination of quorum. The roll call of all officers shall be made at every meeting.
d. Introduction of newly elected members and admission of new members.
e. Reading and acceptance of minutes of previous meeting.
f. Reading of communications, notices, bills.
g. Reports of standing committees.
h. Treasurer's report.
i. Unfinished business.
j. New business.
k. Remarks in the interest of the corporation.
1. Adjournment
Section 6. A member in good standing is a member who shall have paid his/her annual dues for the current year. Qualified new members may join at anytime and be bestowed full membership for the remaining calendar year.
Article IV
Section 1. The officers of the corporation shall be as follows: a President, a Vice‑President, a Secretary, a Treasurer; and a Board of seven (7) Directors.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected from and by the membership at the annual meeting of the Corporation as prescribed above (Article III, Section 1), and shall serve for one year, until their re-election or the election of their successors.
Section 3. Vacancies occurring in said offices shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Any officer or committee chairman, who absents himself /herself from three consecutive scheduled meetings, unless excused, shall have his/her office declared vacant. A new officer will be appointed by the Board of Directors to fill this vacancy until new elections are held at the annual meeting.
Article V
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings as the Executive Officer of the Corporation; as such, the President's signature shall be affixed to the minutes of all meetings as approved by the members; all contracts and other financial documents of the Corporation shall be cosigned by the President and the Treasurer. Additional duties of the President may include, but are not limited to:
formation and oversight of all Committees and Sub-Committees
* advertise Legal Notices as necessary
* coordination of all fundraising activities
* coordination of all Lake maintenance efforts
* responsible for management of all assets of the Corporation
* interact with State and Town officials/boards (both Bellingham and
Blackstone) on matters pertinent to the wellbeing of the Lake and
its environs
* ensure that all legal obligations of the Corporation are met
* oversee and direct weir management (schedule drawdowns, ensure
proper maintenance of the dam and spillway areas, etc.)
* ensure adherence to Corporation By-Laws at all meeting and
elections; oversee annual elections
Section 2. The Vice-President shall assume the President's duties under conditions such as absence, illness, or death. The Vice-President, in conjunction with the Secretary, shall record notes at membership meetings that will be become part of the monthly newsletter which will be posted on the Lake Hiawatha website ,mailed or distributed to the membership. Additional duties of the Vice President may include, but are not limited to:
* assist the President wherever necessary in ensuring adherence to
Corporation By-Laws and
facilitation of all activities of the Corporation
* assist in the performance of all duties stated in Article V, Section1
(Duties of the President) as
requested by the President; assume those duties if the President is
unavailable for any reason
(as stated above)
* assist President with the election process as needed (preparing and
presenting slate of
candidates, counting of ballots, etc.)
* ensure that all legal obligations of the Corporation are met
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings at regular and special meetings of the Corporation, and also at all meetings of the Board of Directors; the Secretary shall have charge of the correspondence and shall keep a record of all members. Additional duties of the Secretary may include, but are not limited to:
* retrieval and appropriate dissemination of mail from Corporation's
Post Office box
(ie, forwarding all checks and invoices to the Treasurer, etc.)
* responsible for retaining paper ballots for a period of 60 days
following Annual Meeting
elections as prescribed in By-Laws
* assist President in the election process as needed (counting of
ballots, etc.)
* maintain meeting minutes and forwarding information in a timely
fashion to the member
Section 4. The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the Corporation from whatever source; shall pay all bills as approved by the Board of Directors and by the members; shall keep an account of all receipts and expenses; shall sign all contracts and other financial documents with the President; and shall receive from the Secretary all membership dues collected by said Secretary. The Treasurer shall be a member of all committees involving financial aspects of the Corporation. Additional duties of the Treasure may include, but are not limited to:
* assist President in the election process as needed (counting of
ballots, etc.)
* ensure payment of all State and Town (both Bellingham and
Blackstone) taxes and fees
* collect and deposit all member dues
* prepare and present a Treasurer's Report containing bank balances,
expenditures and revenue
since previous meeting. A Treasurer's Report will be presented at
each general meeting.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall have general supervision over the activities of the Corporation and shall
be available to attend all scheduled general, annual and special meetings of the Corporation. Additionally, Board
members will actively participate in activities/events and serve on Committees whenever possible.
Article VI
Section 1. Any or all of these By‑Laws may be updated, repealed or amended or other By‑Laws may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the corporation, provided notice of said intended action has been mailed to all members within 15 days preceding said meeting.
Section 1. The use of gasoline‑propelled engines is prohibited on Lake Hiawatha. L.H.A. members should own all watercraft to decrease the chance of introducing invasive nonindigenous species such as (milfoil) to the lake.
Section 2. All gas or propane operated devices are prohibited from operation on/in Lake Hiawatha throughout the year. This shall include the use of any gas powered remote controlled hobby devices or winter recreational vehicles/machinery.
Revised: June 7, 2009
Revised: Dec 5, 2004
March 1, 1995
Sept. 14, 1969
Dec. 4, 1961
