Operating Procedures for Friends of Schoodic

Friends of Schoodic is established as a committee of Schoodic Futures.  The purpose of the following committee structures and operating procedures is to better enable Friends of Schoodic to pursue its mission to preserve and protect the natural and cultural environment of the Schoodic District of Acadia National Park, to support education and research activities, and to maintain and enhance the visitor experience.  The proposed committee organization and operating procedures are subject to approval by the parent organization..

1. Membership

People who have contributed to Friends of Schoodic either by providing a monetary donation or by volunteering their time and energy in support of the organization’s activities may become members of Friends of Schoodic. 

Friends of Schoodic members are nonvoting. However, the Steering Committee of  Friends of Schoodic will keep members informed of activities and decisions, encourage members to provide suggestions and ideas, and will organize an annual Friends of Schoodic membership meeting to facilitate these efforts.

2. Steering Committee 

Friends of Schoodic will be managed by a Steering Committee of not less than five (5) but not more than twenty-five (25) members. 

The Steering Committee will meet monthly. 

The charter Steering Committee will consist of those members of Friends of Schoodic who have attended at least two (2) of the past four (4) monthly meetings and who desire to serve. 

Following the seating of the charter Steering Committee, Steering Committee members may nominate other Friends of Schoodic members to join the Steering Committee at any time. A nominee will become a Steering Committee member if approved by a majority vote of the Steering Committee.

A Steering Committee member may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee.

A quorum of 1/3 of the number of Steering Committee members (but no less then 5 Steering Committee members) will be required before a vote can be taken on a motion presented to the Steering Committee. 

Given a quorum, a simple majority of those present at a Steering Committee meeting will be required to pass any motion.

The Steering Committee may establish subcommittees to advise and assist the Steering Committee. Subcommittees will have powers as determined by a resolution of the Steering Committee..

3. Officers 

The Steering Committee will elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer to serve a term of one (1) year.

Officers shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Steering Committee are carried into effect and shall be accountable to the Steering Committee. In addition, the officers shall have the following duties:

Chairman: The Chairman of the Steering Committee shall preside at all meetings of the Steering Committee and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Steering Committee.

Vice-Chairman: The Vice-Chairman shall carry out the duties of the Chairman in the Chairman’s absence and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Chairman or by the Steering Committee.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have general supervision of the financial records and affairs of Friends of Schoodic.

Secretary: The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, accurate records of the deliberations and actions of the Steering Committee.

4. Relationship to Schoodic Futures 

Friends of Schoodic will maintain a strong institutional relationship with Schoodic Futures and operate under Schoodic Futures’ nonprofit charter. 

The Chairman of Friends of Schoodic will report to Schoodic Futures meetings, keep the Schoodic Futures Board of Directors informed of Friends of Schoodic activities, and coordinate with Schoodic Futures as instructed by the Friends of Schoodic Steering Committee or as requested by the President of Schoodic Futures.

The Treasurer of Friends of Schoodic will work with the Treasurer of Schoodic Futures to manage the Friends of Schoodic account in accordance with sound accounting procedures.