ByLaws
Section 1. Qualifications
The membership of this council shall consist of persons who are interested in and actively practice estate planning in Western Michigan within a radius of one hundred (100) miles of Muskegon, Michigan, and who are actively practicing in one of the following professions or businesses:
- Attorney;
- Certified Public Accountant;
- Chartered Life Underwriters, Chartered Advisors for Senior Living or Other Similar Insurance Professional;
- Certified Financial Planners and Investment Advisors; or
- Members of Nonprofit Organizations.
Section 2. Election
Voting membership of the Council shall consist of 15 members from each of the groups described in Section 1. New members shall be elected by a majority vote of the executive committee and shall become a new member of the association upon payment of the current dues. Associate members who otherwise qualify for full voting membership shall be given first consideration for vacancies within any full membership group.
Section 3. Termination of Membership
Voting membership in this association shall be terminated upon occurrence of any of the following conditions:
- A failure by a member to attend at least one (1) business or program meeting during the association’s year. The association’s year shall commence on September 1 and terminate August 31 of the following year.
- A vote of seven (7) members of the Executive Committee removing the member for good cause.
Voting membership and associate membership shall be terminated upon a member’s failure to pay annual dues for an association’s year.
Section 4. Roster
A roster of the membership of the Council setting forth the names, addresses, affiliation, and telephone numbers of the current members, and segregated by membership groups, shall be prepared by the Secretary and distributed to each member each year.
Section 5. Associate Membership
In addition to the members defined and limited in Sections 1 through 5 inclusive of this Article III, there shall be a separate, non-voting membership classification comprised of:
- Individuals who would otherwise quality for membership in one of t he professional or business groupings set forth in Article III, Section 1, but cannot be admitted to full voting membership due to the limitations of Section 2; and
- Individuals who would not otherwise qualify for membership in one of the professional or business groupings set forth in Article III, Section 1, but who exhibit a business or professional interest in estate planning matters.
Associate members shall not be entitled to vote as members of the Council, but shall be entitled to receive notice of, and attend, all meetings and functions of the Council, and shall be assessed annual dues as established at the annual business meeting of the membership. Associate members shall be elected by a majority vote of the executive committee.
Section 6. Honorary Membership – Senior Status
In addition to the members as defined and limited in preceding sections of Article III, any member who has been a member of the Council for at least ten (10) years, has attained age 60, and is retired from one of the professions listed in Article III, Section 1, may become an Honorary Member – Senior Status of this Council upon written request. All Honorary Members – Senior Status shall be treated as an Associate Member except annual dues shall be waived.