ERMA By-laws

The purpose of this Association shall be to further the progressive and sound development and use of the natural resources of the entire Embarras River watershed and, thus, to promote improved water quality and supply to assist the advancement of the economic, agricultural, industrial, recreational and civic interests and the common good of all who have an interest in the present and future welfare of the entire Embarras River watershed.
In order to carry out this purpose, ERMA shall actively foster and encourage in the Embarras River watershed the following:

Improve water quality and supply.
The wise conservation, management and use of natural resources.
The planning, construction and completion of all feasible and economically justified flood protection and drought control works.
Improve aquatic life and improve wild life habitat.
The promotion through every means available of sound practices of everyone in the Embarras River watershed in the use, management and conservation of farm lands in order that the present and future agricultural productivity of the watershed may be protected and expanded.
The encouragement of all coordinated, sound, and practical activities on the part of the federal agencies, the state, county, and municipal governments to aid and assist private enterprise in putting into effect tested and necessary practices for the conservation of the soil and water resources of the Embarras River watershed.
The preservation of all opportunities for the successful and unhampered operation of private enterprise in all those fields of action in which it is best fitted to serve; the allocation to state and duties consistent with their respective constitutional and traditional functions in order that the local or state participation in all programs for the development and improvement of the land and water resources of the Embarras River watershed may be assured.

Membership in ERMA shall be open to individuals, organizations, firms, corporations, and cities and towns within the Embarras River watershed or having an interest in the watershed whom shall subscribe to ERMA's by-laws and pay dues as prescribed. No member shall be responsible for the debts of ERMA beyond the amount of unpaid dues.
For the purpose of this association, the term "ERMA" shall include that area which lies within the watershed of the Embarras River, in Illinois.

For purposes of initial geographic definition, the Embarras River watershed lies within the following Illinois counties: Champaign, Vermilion, Douglas, Edgar, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Clark, Jasper, Crawford, Richland, and Lawrence.
There shall be two classes of members: (a) Organization members, including association, partnerships, trusts, and corporations; and (b) Individual members, covering only individual persons.
Individual and organizational members shall have the right to cast one vote in the manner and to the extent provided in these by-laws.

A. The government of ERMA shall be invested in the Board of Directors, which will have the power normally assigned a Board of Directors, and shall be elected as herein provided. Each county within the Embarras River watershed may form a steering committee, consisting of ERMA members. Each county steering committee will elect a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and two directors to serve on the ERMA board of directors. The ERMA board of directors shall consist of two members from each county steering committee, plus one director elected at large at the annual meeting. ERMA can start with five members, two each from Cumberland and Jasper counties, and one elected at large.

Each county steering committee shall hold their election of officers annually in January with the slate of officers to be reported to ERMA by mail on or prior to January 31.
The tenure of office of the members of the Board of Directors shall be two years and until a duly elected replacement is installed. One director from each county to be elected each year.
The officers of ERMA shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. They shall be elected at the annual meeting for a term of one year and remain in office until a duly elected replacement is installed. The duties of the officers shall be as such as the term implies or as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

The president, or in the absence of the president, the vice-president, shall sign contracts and official forms for the Association.

The members of ERMA at large shall elect the officers of the Board of Directors and the director in attendance at each annual meeting as follows:

A nominating committee of two shall be appointed by the president.
The nominating committee shall propose a slate of officers. Nominations will be accepted from the floor.
The order of election at the annual meeting shall be president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and director at large.