Refuge Manager Andrew Gude spent the week of February 9 to 14 at the National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia learning more about Land Conservation Easements .

PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENTS
Friends of Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, Inc.
February 3, 2020

At the annual meeting of the membership of the Friends of Refuges coming up on February 29, the Board of Directors will be proposing a set of amendments to the corporate bylaws. Most of the amendments are housekeeping in nature and will not substantially change the way the corporation is run. The membership will be asked to approve the changes at the annual meeting.
 
The proposed bylaw amendments are attached with changes shown by underlining indicating new language and strike-out indicating language to be deleted. Questions about these changes may be directed to John McPherson, President, 352-317-7431, jkmcpherson@att.net.
 
A summary of the proposed changes:
 
Art. I, Section 3:          
Corrects the mailing address for the corporation.
 
Art. I, Section 8:          
Adds a statement of non-discrimination.
 
Art. III, Section 1:     
Non-discrimination language deleted in favor of new language at Article I, Section 8.
 
Art. III, Section 3:       
Changes the period of annual membership to work better with our current membership software.
 
Art. III, Section 4:       
Adds requirement that a member of corporation can be removed by the Board only for good cause.
 
Art. V, Section 1:        
Clarifies the make-up of the Board of Directors and the minimum and maximum number of Board members.
 
Art. V, Section 8:        
Clarifies that in the absence of the President and President-Elect the Secretary shall chair a meeting of the Board of Directors, and that in the absence of all three, the Treasurer shall chair the meeting.
 
Art. V, Section 12:       
Deletes language relating to Standing Committees, in deference to actual practice of the Board creating committees as needed for as long as needed.
 
Art. VI, Section 3:      
Changes the time-line for the nominating committee’s work to make it more realistic and consistent with actual practice.
 
Art. VI, Section 4:      
Deletes redundant language.
 
Art. VIII, Section 1:     
Adds clarifying language relating to allowable use of Corporate funds.
 
Art. VIII, Section 3:     
Deletes redundant language.
 
Art. IX:                       
Adds a new article adding conflict of interest policies as required by state and federal law.
 
Art. X:                        
Adds a new article adding procedures relating to electronic security.