Great Lakes United is pleased to invite our members to take part in our 2010 Annual Meeting, and a special meeting to update the bylaws. Both meetings will be held online. This means less travel, lower costs, and greater opportunities to help steer the future of our coalition.

Annual Meeting

Voting for our annual meeting will take place from December 16 to December 22. At that time, members will help set our shared vision and agenda. While only organizational members may vote, individual members are encouraged to take part in the process. There are two main aspects to the meeting: drafting and passing policy resolutions and the election of our Board of Directors. These two routes ensure that Great Lakes United blazes a path drawn by you and your fellow members.

Submitting Resolutions: Resolutions are more than a statement of policy. When you bring a resolution forward you have an opportunity to introduce your cause to fellow members, gain collective approval of your position, and create an opportunity for Great Lakes United to formally advance your issue among policymakers, the public, and allies.

Electing our Board of Directors: Being a member of the Board of Directors is a chance to lead a premier coalition working to protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Our Directors are a passionate group of advocates who see a healthy future for this region. The special meeting (see below) proposes changes to the bylaws, as recommended by the Board of Directors. If approved, such changes would broaden the scope of the board and reduce some of the limitations on who can join the Board. Currently there are 6 positions available:

• Lake Michigan Director
• Canada Director at Large
• First Nations Director
• Tribal Director
• Canada Director at Large, Quebec
• US Director at Large

If passed, changes to the bylaws will reshape some of these positions. Regardless, if you’re interested in joining our Board of Directors please contact us.

Special Meeting

As mentioned above, the Board of Directors is proposing changes to our bylaws that would broaden the scope of those who can join our Board and reduce some of the barriers to engagement. Voting for this meeting will take place on Monday November 8.

Over the coming days we’ll send you more details on how you can participate in these two meetings, including a summary of the proposed bylaw changes, board nomination forms, and information on how you can participate in the resolution process. In the meantime, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Brent Gibson at bgibson@glu.org, or by telephone at 613-482-1324 x509.

We look forward to your participation this year!