LLBDM - Lake Association

Organizing Committee

EFFECTIVE 2025-11-18: The Organizing Committee was dissolved upon formation of the Board of Directors at the Founding Meeting.

LLBDM Organizing Committee
Purpose Document

1. NAME AND SCOPE

Committee Name: Little Lake Butte Des Morts (LLBDM) Lake Association Organizing Committee
Geographic Scope: Little Lake Butte Des Morts watershed, extending south to the Menasha Dam and Neenah Dams and to the north to Appleton Lock #1, encompassing portions of Neenah, Menasha, Fox Crossing, Appleton, and Grand Chute
Topical Focus: Formation of a legally compliant, financially sound, broad based, and sustainable lake association fully capable of securing funds, advocating issues, and executing plans.

2. MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

Primary Mission: To establish the LLBDM Lake Association as an independent, qualified Wisconsin lake association capable of accessing public and private funding, coordinating multi-municipal efforts, and implementing sustainable water quality improvements.

Key Objectives:

  • Design legally compliant articles of incorporation and bylaws meeting Wisconsin statutory requirements
  • Recruit qualified board members to fill identified skill gaps in financial management, legal compliance, grant writing, and municipal relations
  • Conduct comprehensive community outreach to ensure broad stakeholder representation
  • Establish proper fiscal oversight systems for municipal seed funding management
  • Create sustainable organizational structure for long-term lake stewardship

3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizing Committee Chair/Facilitator: Danielle Rand

  • Convene meetings and manage agendas
  • Coordinate with municipal liaisons
  • Oversee committee communications

Communications Coordinator: Chris Rand

  • Develop website and social media presence
  • Manage community outreach efforts
  • Interface with municipal governments and media

Municipal Liaison: Steve Erb

  • Coordinate with UW Extension Lakes Program
  • Interface with contributing municipalities
  • Assist with regulatory compliance

Committee Members: Tim Nelson, Cliff Halley, Nick Heinritz, Dick Sturm and recruited additions

  • Participate in board recruitment activities
  • Review and approve organizational documents
  • Represent diverse community perspectives

Decision-Making Authority: This organizing committee makes recommendations only. Final board selection and bylaw approval require a vote by the prospective lake association members.

4. TIMELINE AND MILESTONES

Phase 1: Foundation Building (August – October 2025)

  • August 19, 2025: Community update meeting
  • September 2025: Complete skills assessment and board recruitment strategy
  • October 2025: Draft bylaws with 3rd party review

Phase 2: Community Engagement (September 2025 – November 2026)

  • September 2025: Comprehensive community outreach campaign
  • October 2025: Board candidate interviews and selection
  • November 2026: Final bylaw review and municipal coordination

Phase 3: Formation (November – January 2026)

  • November 2026: Articles of incorporation filing
  • December 2026: Founding meeting and board election
  • January 2026: First operational board meeting and grant applications

5. DELIVERABLES AND REPORTING

Required Deliverables:

  • Legally compliant articles of incorporation and bylaws
  • Qualified board candidate slate with demonstrated expertise
  • Community engagement plan with expanded membership base
  • Financial oversight framework for municipal seed funding
  • Grant application strategy and timeline

Reporting Schedule:

  • Monthly progress reports to contributing municipalities
  • Monthly community updates via website and social media
  • Meeting minutes distributed within 5 business days

6. DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Quorum: Simple majority of active Organizing Committee members
Voting: Consensus preferred; simple majority required for procedural decisions
Conflict of Interest: All members must disclose potential conflicts and recuse themselves from related votes
Documentation: All decisions recorded in meeting minutes with rationale

7. COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS

Internal Communications: Email coordination among organizing committee members
External Communications: Danielle Rand serves as primary spokesperson; Chris Rand manages digital communications
Meeting Minutes: Distributed to all participants and posted on community website
Public Information: All non-confidential committee work shared transparently with community

8. SUNSET CLAUSE

This organizing committee will automatically dissolve upon:

  • Successful incorporation of the LLBDM Lake Association
  • Election of the association’s first board of directors
  • Transfer of all assets, records, and responsibilities to the elected board

Target Dissolution Date: February 28, 2026

9. FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Given management of municipal seed funding ($10,000+ committed), the organizing committee acknowledges:

  • Duty of Care: Prudent management of all funds according to municipal agreements
  • Duty of Loyalty: Prioritizing lake association interests over personal or vendor relationships
  • Duty of Obedience: Compliance with all municipal resolutions and grant requirements
  • Oversight: Regular financial reporting and audit trail maintenance
  • Transparency: Open books policy with contributing municipalities

Adopted: 2025-08-13
Next Review: 2025-09-13
Contact: llbdm.org

This document serves as our North Star for building a sustainable, effective lake association that can access significant grant funding while maintaining community trust and municipal partnerships.