Park Conservation District
|
| |||
Park Conservation District
Park Conservation District Home
BACK TO MAIN
Watershed Groups
PAGE
Upper Shields Watershed Association
Bylaws
UPPER SHIELDS RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
BY-LAWSI. NAME-LOCATION
The name of the association shall be Upper Shields River Watershed Association. Its principal mailing address shall be Park Conservation District, 5242 US Highway 89 South, Livingston, MT 59047.
II. MISSION STATEMENT
The Upper Shields River Watershed Association is a collection of land owners and citizens of the community that share the vision that ranching, as a way of life, can and must be preserved. This group has been drawn together for the purpose of protecting and improving the land, water, and the resources of the land since these represent the very foundation of ranching.
The mission of the Upper Shields River Watershed Association is based on the following four interwoven commitments:
· Lifestyle
To provide support for and to preserve the independent way of life known as “ranching” and to help educate the general public about the necessity of ranching as it relates to the economic health of the community and the state.· Resources
To become educated about and to put into effect the most practical means of preserving water quality, stream banks and fish habitat, to promote sound and efficient use of the water both in streams and from underground sources, to manage timber resources for both production and esthetics value and to maintain the range resource for both present and future generations.· Weeds
To seek and use all methods available to control the spread of noxious weeds in a manner that is consistent with improving the land and the range.· Wildlife
To promote sound game management that will insure the existence of reasonable numbers of game birds, game animals and native species that are in balance with the habitat and the ranches that support theses animals.
III. PURPOSE AND GOALSThe purpose of the Association is:
a. to educate landowners and the public on natural resource issues.
b. to inventory and document changes in the resource base.
c. to develop solutions to problems, which will protect agriculture while positively improving natural resources within the area.
d. to work with Federal, State, and County agencies to coordinate watershed improvement activities in a feasible and economical manner.
e. to work with agencies to help secure funding to improve the natural resources in the watershed area.IV. MEMBERSHIP
All farm operators from the designated area, whether owners, operators, leasers, renters, or tenants may be members. Other interested citizens who support the goals of the Association and live within the boundaries of the designated area may also be members. The designated area is the upper Shields River drainage, including all tributaries, as shown on the attached map. This designed area may be changed by recommendation of the executive committee and vote of the membership in the original designated area.
While most issues presented at the meetings of the Association shall be decided by general consensus, if a counted vote is necessary, all members present at the time of voting shall be entitled to vote.
V. ASSOCIATION ORGANIZATION
a. CHAIRMAN: There shall be a Chairman elected annually from the general membership. Duties include: conducting meetings, working with the coordinator and assistant coordinator in preparing for meetings: (types of meetings include: Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, and monthly Association meetings).
b. VICE CHAIRMAN: There shall be a Vice Chairman elected annually from the general membership. The Vice Chairman shall assist the Chairman when necessary.
c. COORDINATOR: There shall be a coordinator, who will be employed through the Park Conservation District. The coordinator works closely with and receives direction from the Chairman and Vice Chairman. Duties include:
· the organization of monthly meetings - agenda, minutes, and schedule presenters,
· the organization of Technical Advisory Group meetings - agenda and meeting summary,
· the organization of Committee meetings - agenda and meeting summary,
· mailing meeting reminder cards to Association members,
· communicating by telephone with Association members on meeting dates,
· writing grants, completing expense reports, quarterly reports, and final reports, and
· the organization of educational programs and tours.d. ASSISTANT COORDINATOR: There shall be an Assistant Coordinator who will be employed through the Park Conservation District. The assistant coordinator works closely and is supervised by the Coordinator (with help from the Chairman and Vice Chairman). Duties include:
· working with contractors and landowners on projects,
· assisting in grant writing (gather information),
· photographing watershed projects for monitoring purposes, and
· assisting the coordinator with educational programs and watershed tours.e. FACILITATOR: In so far as it is needed there shall be a facilitator to conduct the Association meeting.
f. COMMITTEES: Committees shall be formed as needed to address specific issues or problems relative to the watershed. Each committee will elect a chairman who will be a member of the executive committee. The initial committees shall consist of the following:
· Riverbank Stabilization Committee
· Weeds/Range Committee
· Endangered/Threatened Species Committee
· Off-Stream Watering/Off-Stream Corral Committee
· Irrigation Efficiencies (field level)/Dewatering/Irrigation Storage CommitteeThese committees may be dissolved and other committees formed as needed in the future. Each committee shall investigate its area of concern, report findings to the member of the Association, and, when possible, plan and conduct tours and/or present programs to educate the general membership relative to problems, possible solutions, and sources of funding in each area.
g. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: There shall be an executive committee consisting of the coordinator, assistant coordinator, Association Chairman, Association Vice Chairman, and the Chairman of the various committees. The executive committee shall meet as often as necessary to coordinate work and overlapping areas of interest of the various committees. They shall assist the Association Chairman in setting the agenda for general meeting and making recommendations for issues to be presented to the general membership. If any Committee Chairman is unable to attend an executive committee meeting, he shall appoint another member of his committee to attend the meetings. To minimize his own work load, the Association Chairman may delegate work to the various committee chairman as necessary.
h. TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE: There shall be a technical advisory committee consisting of persons who have expert knowledge concerning the problems and possible solutions being addressed by the Association.
The technical advisory committee shall be consulted in the areas of their expertise as needed and shall assist in finding sources of funding for various projects. Either individually or as a group, they shall meet with the executive committee or the entire membership periodically to assist the Association in meeting its goals.
i. MEETINGS: There shall be meetings of the general membership as often as is practical and necessary. Notification of meetings shall be by phone or mail. The agenda for the meeting shall be set by the executive committee and the coordinator. Minutes shall be taken by the coordinator and mailed to all members.
VI ADDITIONS TO AND AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
The structure, designated area, membership rules or any other part of these by-laws may be changed at any time by recommendation of the coordinator and executive committee and vote of the general membership.