WLPOA Bylaws

Our Bylaws

PURPOSE:  To present information to association members about issues that concern property owners as they enjoy life at Wallowa Lake.  To promote solutions to situations or items that may affect the health and welfare of our full or part time resident members. To foster and promote the preservation and maintenance of the natural terrain, flora and fauna, and the enhancement of the aesthetic values of our area and, in special situations or cases, in the surrounding areas.  To be aware of any changes in county and state laws that may affect our area.  To provide an opportunity for members to get to know their neighbors, county leaders, and managers of Wallowa Lake systems and organizations.   This is a MUTUAL BENEFIT NONPROFIT CORPORATION, which is organized and operated under guidelines set by the State of Oregon.

NAME:   This organization shall be known as the WALLOWA LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION.  

ARTICLE I     MEMBERSHIP – Property Owners Association boundaries extend to all areas that encompass the residential areas to the north, west, and south of Wallowa Lake, Oregon, extending south to the US Forest Service boundary of the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. 

ARTICLE II    REGISTERED OFFICE - The legal registered office shall be:  Wallowa Lake Property Owners Association, PO Box 1011, Joseph, OR 97846.

ARTICLE III   MEETINGS - 

            All meetings of the general membership, the board and any appointed committees will be conducted following Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 1.  BIANNUAL MEETINGS of the members shall be held on a Saturday in May or early June and a Saturday in late August or September at a time determined by the board.  The purpose of the two meetings shall be to elect the board of directors, update the members of previous and future association plans, making decisions regarding the association, and for any other association affairs that may come up.  Where possible, the President will distribute an agenda prior to the meeting for the members information.

Section 2.  ELECTIONS of officers will be held at the fall meeting.  In the case of an open office due to resignation, etc. elections may be held at the spring meeting or via electronic/mail balloting of the members.

Section 3.  PLACE OF MEETINGS.  Meetings of the members shall be held at Wallowa Lake, Oregon, at a place determined by the board.  In the case of emergency situations, the board of directors may determine that meetings are best accomplished electronically or by mail for those members who have indicated that electronic communication is not available to them.  Voting in this case may also be done electronically and by mail. 

Section 4.  NOTICE OF MEETINGS.  Written, printed or electronic notices stating the place, day and hour of the meeting; and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered in a timely manner before the date of the meeting, by mail, electronically or at the direction of the officer calling the meeting.  If mailed, such notice is considered to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, correctly addressed and appropriate postage attached.

Section 5.  OFFICIAL BUSINESS:  In the event that official business of the Wallowa Lake Property Association must be acted upon in a timely manner and a regular or special meeting is not possible, the board of directors is empowered, on behalf of the Association, to conduct business on behalf of the association to pay for common expenses as it deems necessary for the continuation of services requested by the membership.  The board shall contact the membership electronically and/or by mail to inform them of these expenses.  (An example of this would be if garbage rates go up, the board may approve this increased expenditure without the prior consent of the membership.)  This power entrusted to the board is not to exceed $250 to address any one situation and is dependent on the unanimous vote of the board.  Also, in the case where an issue cannot wait to be resolved at a regular meeting, the board is empowered to make minor decisions, in furthering a decision of the membership. These expenditures and decisions should be communicated to the membership in a timely manner.

Section 6.   QUORUM/VOTING:  Those members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business, adopting budgets, and the dissemination of information.  Each paid membership is entitled to 1 (one) vote.   In the case of multiple owners on one membership, one person shall represent all these owners with the one vote.  All members must be current and in good standing with the Association to be entitled to vote, hold elective or appointive office, and serve on committees as may be established. 

Members unable to attend a meeting may vote or generally voice their opinion electronically up to one day prior to the meeting.  

Voting may also be conducted either electronically or by mail. The number of members responding to the call for the vote will be considered the quorum and the majority of votes will carry the matter.

Section 8.  MEMBER DUES:  Annual membership dues of $30.00 will be accepted starting January 1 and are due by March 31 of each year for that association year which runs from April 1 to March 31.  On April 1, former members who have not renewed their membership will be contacted to remind them that they will not enjoy any rights of membership, nor will they have any voting rights in the association.  If these people wish to pay at the spring meeting, their dues will be accepted.

New members may pay at the bi-annual meetings. 

In the case of a need for an increase in the membership dues, this amount and its justification can be presented and decided at either of the bi-annual meetings of the association.

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected from the membership every two (2) years.  Term limits for the office of president will be five or six years or three terms, whichever comes first.

The President will:

  • Conduct timely, orderly, focused meetings based on an agenda.

  • Liaison between the WLPOA and community partners.

  • Lead and direct the board of directors.

  • Maintain guidelines and speaker presentation schedule.

  • Excuse all members who are not in compliance with WLPOA membership guidelines.

The president shall be the chief executive officer of the association and shall have general supervision of the other officers.  The president shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the board of directors and see that all orders and resolutions of the board are carried into effect.

However, it will be the right of the board to delegate to any other officer or officers of the association any specific powers.  The president shall execute in the name of the association all agreements and other documents authorized by the board of directors and/or members, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board to some other officer of the association. 

The president shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of the president of an association.

Vice-President: 

The vice-president shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the president in case of the president's illness, disability or temporary absence from the office of the association and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be granted or imposed by the board of directors or the president.  If the president should resign, the vice-president will then move into the role of the president, conduct the requirements of that office, and serve out the president’s term of office,

Secretary:

The secretary shall keep the minutes of the general membership and board meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose, see that all notices of association meetings and of special meetings of the board are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws or as required by law, be custodian of the association records, and conduct an annual review of the WLPOA bylaws and present a report of that review to the board at a regular meeting.  The secretary, using the treasurer’s membership information, will prepare and update the email addresses (used in the WLPOA email communication) and mail addresses needed for communicating with the membership.  The secretary will send out the notices for payment of dues during the first two weeks of January.  Other duties may be prescribed by the board.  

Treasurer:

The treasurer shall keep and have charge of the financial records of the Association by:

·         maintaining the accounts of the association’s funds. 

·         maintaining an accurate account of receipts and disbursements in the association books.

·         depositing all money and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the association in such depositories as may be designated by the board;

·         receiving and giving receipts for monies due and payable to the association, 

·         disbursing the funds of the Association as may be ordered or authorized by the board and preserve receipts for such disbursements.

·         preparing a bi-annual report of dues and disbursements; identify known upcoming expenses; summarize the current amount in the association’s account.

·         presenting this financial report at the bi-annual meeting of association.

The treasurer shall keep a register of the contact information of each member, which shall be furnished on each membership form, and originate and distribute to the officers the roster of paid members.  Annually, after the last day for payment of dues (March 31) the membership list will be reviewed for unpaid membership dues.  Those who have not paid will be notified and will be eliminated from the association roll if dues remain unpaid. 

The treasurer shall perform such other duties as are given by these bylaws or as are assigned by the board or the president.

Board of Directors:  

The board of directors shall consist of the four officers listed above as well as the immediate past president of the association. In the event that the immediate past president is not able to serve, the board of directors may appoint any immediate or recent officer to the role on the board.  

Committees:

The Board of Directors or the President may designate from among the members of the association a committee to research an issue, develop a report or otherwise aid the association.  The committee may be a standing committee or one created for a specific purpose.  Upon the completion of its charge, the committee will present a report of its findings to the board or the association at large.  The President may appoint the committee members or the members may be elected by the association.  Leaders of the committee will be assigned by vote of the committee members. 

ARTICLE V.  AMENDMENTS 

These by-laws may be amended by the general membership.  To amend the by-laws all members must be notified of any proposed by-law change and must be provided a method to vote on the change electronically.  It requires a majority of two-thirds of responding voters to amend the by-laws The board may also initiate bylaw changes which must be ratified by two thirds of responding members.  Amendment voting is best obtained electronically because of the wide spread geographic location of members. Members not having Internet access may send their vote by mail.  Members generally must be given a two-week window to get their votes registered via the WLPOA gmail account or by USPS.  (Correction in misspellings, grammar etc. may be made by the secretary at any time.)

ARTICLE VI.  ANNUAL ACTIVITIES OF THE WLPOA:

           Each year, activities and interests of the association may change.  However, the following activities are understood to be of a continuing importance to members:

  • Two meetings per year.

  • Membership socials as arranged.

  • Locating a garbage dumpster for the use of members.

  • An email account used to communicate with members.

  • An association website.

  • Continuing interest in educating members about:

o   Fire prevention programs - Firewise.

    • Sewer/water and other county programs.

    • State Park activities.

    • Forest Service activities.

    • Fire district/law enforcement activities.

    • PacificCorp activities.

o   Lake and dam programs.

o   Wildlife preservation programs.

·         Others as identified by the members or officers.

Adopted by the membership Sept. 2020/revised July, 2021 and August, 2022