Alliance for Sustainability

The Alliance for Sustainability is a non-profit corporation organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes consistent with its vision statement and the following premise: That for meaningful progress to be made in the area of sustainable development, it must be made on a consensus basis, and for development to be sustainable, it must incorporate all three areas of activity and concern: economic, social and environmental.

1. Membership

   Membership is open to all citizens in Bayfield and Ashland Counties and the Red Cliff and Bad River Tribes, who support the above vision statement.

2. Annual Membership Meeting.

   The annual meeting of the membership shall be held on the last Tuesday of October, or on such other date as may be set by the Steering Committee, at a time and place set by the Steering Committee. A quorum for said meeting shall be the members present.

3. Other Membership Meetings.
   1. The membership shall meet at other times and places when called together by the Steering Committee, or by the chairperson upon petition to the chairperson of 25% of the membership or a simple majority of the Steering Committee.
   2. If a decision by the Steering Committee is blocked by 3 or fewer people, the question may be placed before the Membership for decision by a vote of 2/3 of the members present at said meeting. The meeting shall be called as set forth in 3.A.
4. Steering Committee.
   1. The organization shall be headed by a board of directors known as the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee may act and speak for the Alliance for Sustainability. The Steering Committee shall operate on a consensus basis and have a quorum of 8 members.
   2. Six seats on the Steering Committee shall be reserved for the elected executives (or their representatives) of the six bay communities of Red Cliff, LaPointe, Bayfield, Washburn, Ashland, and Bad River. If any one of those communities’ executive officers decides not to participate, The Steering Committee shall select a person from that community to fill the seat.
   3. Two seats on the Steering Committee shall be reserved for the head of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the head of the Washburn District Office of the U.S. Forest Service, or their designees. Following each annual meeting, the Steering Committee shall select to serve on the Steering Committee a representative from Ashland County Government and Bayfield County Government.
   4. At the annual meeting, members shall elect up to 10 additional members to the Steering Committee. To be elected by the members to the Steering Committee, a person must be a member and not on the Steering Committee in another capacity.
   5. Following each annual meeting, the Steering Committee may select additional persons to serve on the Steering Committee, provided that the total number of Steering Committee members shall not exceed 24.
   6. The Steering Committee shall meet immediately after the annual membership meeting to elect officers and at least quarterly thereafter, at times and places it sets. The Chairperson may call a meeting of the Steering Committee, in his or her discretion.
   7. Vacancies on the Steering Committee shall be filled by the Steering Committee, said person selected to fill the vacancy serving until the next annual membership meeting.
5. Officers.

   The Steering Committee shall elect from its members the following officers

   1. A Chairperson, who shall be responsible for any Chairperson duties set out elsewhere in these Bylaws, shall chair Steering Committee and Membership meetings, and shall be the spokesperson for the Alliance for Sustainability as directed by the Steering Committee. For purposes of section 181.25 of the Wisconsin Statutes the Chairperson shall be the president of the Alliance.
   2. A Vice-Chairperson, who shall have the duties of the Chairperson when the latter is unable or unwilling to carry them out. For purposes of section 181.25 of the Wisconsin Statutes the Vice-Chairperson shall be the vice president of the Alliance.
   3. A Secretary/Treasurer, who shall keep minutes of the meeting of the Steering Committee and Membership, be custodian of organizational documents, and act as custodian of any organizational funds. For purposes of section 181.25 of the Wisconsin Statutes the Secretary/Treasurer shall be the secretary and treasurer of the Alliance. The Steering Committee may, at its option, elect one of its members as Secretary and another as Treasurer.
   4. Each officer shall have a term until the next annual meeting. Each officer may be removed and replaced at any time by the Steering Committee.
6. Committees. The Steering Committee shall have three permanent committees: Executive, Finance and Nominating.
   1. Executive Committee. Composed of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Treasurer. The Chairperson will chair the committee. The Executive Committee shall act for and on behalf of the Steering Committee when the Steering Committee is not in session, but shall be accountable to the Steering Committee for its actions. The Executive Committee shall also determine the compensation for any employees, or consultants and review the performance of compensated individuals at least annually.
   2. Finance Committee. Composed of the Treasurer and two Steering Committee members, appointed by the Steering Committee at the first Steering Committee meeting after the organization’s annual meeting. This committee shall provide oversight for the financial operations of the Alliance and shall draft an annual budget, which shall be presented to the Steering Committee for approval at the regular December Steering Committee meeting.
   3. Nominating Committee. Composed of 3 to 5 Steering Committee members, appointed by the Steering Committee at the first Steering Committee meeting after the organization’s annual meeting. The committee members shall elect a chair. The duty of this committee is to develop a slate of nominees to fill open positions on the Steering Committee. The slate shall be presented to the membership at the organization’s annual meeting. This committee shall conduct the balloting, count the votes and announce the results at the annual meeting. The committee shall also identify potential officers for each new year.
   4. Other Committees. The Steering Committee may appoint such ad hoc committees as it deems appropriate.
7. Sponsors.

   Any individual, business, governmental body or other organization which makes a financial contribution to the Alliance at a level set by the Steering Committee shall be known as a Sponsor of the Alliance for the year in which the contribution is made. The Steering Committee may establish different levels for different types of contributors. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a list of all current Sponsors, which may be publicized from time to time, as determined by the Steering Committee, to inform the public or other interested parties of those who support the Alliance through financial contributions.

8. Amendments.

   These Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present at a membership meeting.