News

BLA Restatement of By-Laws

Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.

RESTATEMENT OF BY-LAWS
BABOOSIC LAKE ASSOCIATION
ADOPTED ON: 5/3/2026
 
These Bylaws constitute a full and complete restatement of the prior bylaws of the Baboosic Lake Association. This restatement was duly adopted in accordance with Article XIII of the prior bylaws, upon the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting at a duly noticed meeting of the Association.
 
Upon adoption, these Bylaws supersede and replace in their entirety all prior bylaws and amendments of the Association.
 
ARTICLE I: PURPOSE
 
The purpose of the Association is:
 

1. To educate the public on the care, quality, and preservation of Baboosic Lake and its surrounding watershed.
2. To educate the public on invasive species prevention.
3. To educate the public on boater safety and to monitor safety on the lake.
4. To educate responsible individuals on proper water quality testing procedures.
5. To assist and protect citizens using the lake by funding and performing water testing and publishing alerts if unsafe conditions are identified.
6. To protect, preserve, and improve the quality of Baboosic Lake and its surrounding watershed.
7. To nominate at least one charitable organization annually to receive a donation in the name of the Baboosic Lake Association.

 
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
 
Membership in the Association is open to all persons or entities having an interest in its purposes. Membership shall be granted upon completion of an approved application and payment of annual dues.
 
There shall be two classes of members:
 

1. Voting Members

A voting member is entitled to one (1) vote and must hold title to property located on or within the area of Baboosic Lake bounded by Camp Road, Baboosic Lake Road North, Baboosic Lake Road South, Pavilion Road, Walnut Hill Road, Embankment Road, Red Gate Lane, and Lake Outlet Road (see Annex 1).
Voting members shall be entitled to one vote regardless of ownership of multiple properties or lots.
 
 

1. Non-Voting Members
   
   

A non-voting member is any individual or entity with an interest in the purposes of the Association who pays annual dues but does not have voting rights.
 
ARTICLE III: OFFICERS
 

1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting and shall serve terms of two (2) years.

 

1. No individual may hold more than one office at a time.

 

1. A vacancy in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the President, subject to approval by a majority of the Board of Directors.

 
ARTICLE IV: PRESIDENT
 

1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors.
2. In addition to duties outlined in these bylaws, the President shall perform such other duties as may be required by the membership or the Board of Directors.

 
ARTICLE V: VICE PRESIDENT
 

1. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall exercise and perform the powers and duties of the President.

 
ARTICLE VI: SECRETARY
 

1. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors and shall record and maintain accurate minutes and records, except those pertaining to the Treasurer.

 

1. The Secretary shall also perform such other duties as may be required by the President or the Board of Directors.

 
ARTICLE VII: TREASURER
 

1. The Treasurer shall receive all funds of the Association and deposit them in financial institutions approved by the Board of Directors.

 

1. The Treasurer shall disburse funds in accordance with instructions approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and shall provide a financial report at each Board meeting and at the annual meeting.

 

1. An annual financial review shall be conducted by a Certified Public Accountant selected by the Board of Directors.

 
ARTICLE VIII: MEETINGS
 
The annual meeting of the membership shall be held in May or June at a date, time, and place designated by the Board of Directors. Notice shall be provided at least ten (10) days in advance.
 
Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors at any time with at least ten (10) days’ notice to members.
 
A quorum shall consist of:
 

1. Fifty percent (50%) of the Board of Directors, and
2. At least ten percent (10%) of the membership.

 
ARTICLE IX: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 

1. The management of the Association between membership meetings shall be vested in the Board of Directors.

 

1. The Board shall consist of the officers plus eight (8) additional directors elected at the annual meeting. Directors shall serve two (2)-year terms and may serve consecutive terms.

 

1. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the President, subject to approval by a majority of the Board.

 
ARTICLE X: FISCAL YEAR
 
The fiscal year and membership year of the Association shall run from January 1 through December 31.
 
ARTICLE XI: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
 
Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
 
ARTICLE XII: BOARD MEETINGS AND ATTENDANCE
 
The Board of Directors shall meet monthly. Meetings may be rescheduled at the discretion of the President.
 
Any Board member who misses more than two (2) consecutive meetings or more than three (3) meetings in a calendar year without an excused absence, as determined and recorded by the Board, may be removed and replaced by a majority vote of the Board.
 
 
ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS
 
These bylaws may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting at any annual or special meeting, provided that the proposed amendment is submitted in writing to the Board of Directors at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.
 
ARTICLE XIV: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
AND PECUNIARY BENEFIT TRANSACTIONS
 
Section 1. Purpose
 
The purpose of this Article is to protect the interests of the Association when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director, or other disqualified person, and to ensure compliance with New Hampshire law, including RSA 7:19-a.
 
Section 2. Definitions
 

1. Interested Person
   Any director, officer, or member of a committee with Board-delegated powers who has a direct or indirect financial interest.

 

1. Financial Interest
   A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly:
2. A compensation arrangement with the Association;
3. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which the Association has a transaction or arrangement; or
4. A potential ownership, investment, or compensation interest in such an entity.

 

1. Pecuniary Benefit Transaction
   A transaction in which a director, officer, or other disqualified person has a financial interest and in which the Association provides or receives goods, services, or anything of value.

 
Section 3. Duty to Disclose
 
An Interested Person must disclose the existence of any financial interest and all material facts to the Board of Directors prior to any discussion or vote on the transaction.
 
Section 4. Determining Whether a Conflict Exists
 
After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the Interested Person, the Interested Person shall leave the meeting. The remaining Board members shall determine whether a conflict of interest exists.
 
 
 
 
Section 5. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict
 

1. The Interested Person may make a presentation at the meeting but shall leave during the discussion of, and vote on, the transaction.

 

1. The Chair of the Board (or disinterested designee) shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction.

 

1. The Board shall exercise due diligence and consider whether the Association can obtain a more advantageous arrangement with reasonable effort under the circumstances.

 

1. A transaction may be approved only if a majority of the disinterested directors determine that:

 

1. The transaction is fair and reasonable to the Association;
2. The transaction is in the best interest of the Association; and
3. The transaction furthers the Association’s charitable purposes.

 
Section 6. Documentation and Recordkeeping
 
The minutes of the Board of Directors shall contain:
 

1. The names of persons who disclosed or were found to have a financial interest;

1. The nature of the financial interest;
2. Any action taken to determine whether a conflict was present;
3. The Board’s decision as to whether a conflict existed;
4. The names of persons present for discussions and votes;
5. The content of the discussion, including any alternatives considered; and
6. A record of any votes taken.

 
Section 7. Violations of the Policy
 
If the Board has reasonable cause to believe a member has failed to disclose a conflict of interest, it shall inform the individual and allow an opportunity to explain. If a violation is determined, the Board may take appropriate disciplinary or corrective action.
 
 
 
Section 8. Annual Statements
 
Each director and officer shall annually sign a statement affirming that such person:
 

1. Has received a copy of this policy;

1. Has read and understands the policy; and
2. Agrees to comply with the policy.

 
Section 9. Compensation
 
A voting member of the Board who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Association for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that compensation.
 
Section 10. Periodic Reviews
 
To ensure the Association operates in a manner consistent with its charitable purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status, the Board shall periodically review transactions and arrangements subject to this policy.
 
Section 11. Use of Outside Experts
 
When appropriate, the Board may rely on the advice of legal counsel, accountants, or other professionals. Such reliance shall not relieve the Board of its responsibility to ensure compliance with this policy.
 
ARTICLE XV: GOVERNING LAW / FORUM
 

1. This Association is organized as a voluntary corporation under RSA Chapter 292 of the State of New Hampshire, also known as the New Hampshire Voluntary Corporations and Associations statute.

 

1. All provisions of these bylaws shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with RSA Chapter 292 and all other applicable laws of the State of New Hampshire.

 

1. Any reference to laws governing nonprofit or charitable corporations shall be deemed to refer to the applicable provisions of New Hampshire law, including RSA Chapter 292 and RSA 7:19-a, as amended.

 
ARTICLE XVI: DISSOLUTION

1. The purpose of this Article is to restate, clarify, and supersede Article 3 of the Articles of Agreement of the Baboosic Lake Association executed on July 14, 1984, with respect to the disposition of assets upon dissolution.

 

1. Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the Association, dispose of all remaining assets exclusively for the purposes of the Association.

 

1. Such assets shall be distributed to one or more organizations that are organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or environmental purposes and that qualify as tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

1. Any such recipient organization shall be selected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and, to the extent practicable, shall have purposes consistent with the protection, preservation, or improvement of Baboosic Lake or similar natural resources.

 

1. The distribution of assets shall be made in accordance with all applicable laws of the State of New Hampshire.

 

---

Letter from the President (March 2026)
 
Hello everyone, I’m reaching out today to let you all know that after 20+ years of soak up the rain projects, 12+ years after installing a community septic system (and paying the highest rates in the state, or installing expensive personal wastewater treatment plants), and 3.5 years after specifically pursuing an alum permit, we have now received our Surface Water Discharge Permit, allowing Baboosic Lake to become the 5th waterbody in our state (out of 944 total) to achieve the ability to combat the scourge of cyanobacteria and make our Augusts great again! This has been a tremendous effort pushed by the Baboosic Lake Association, and your continued support of our group has allowed it to happen.

Our current plan is to begin the alum treatment on June 1st, and weather permitting, completion by June 10th (with NH DES required rest days on June 6th and 7th). Fortunately, we locked in our contract with Solitude a few months ago (based on aluminum/diesel price futures subsequent applications for other lakes in future years will be substantially more expensive). We will be sending out notifications by mail confirming to all limitations of lake use during this period (and discussing during the annual meeting). By June 12th get ready to get your snorkeling gear ready to see more of this lake than you ever have (which might be a little scary, probably a lot of beer cans, hats, towels etc)!

This will be a generational change for our lake. As we’ve discussed, unfortunately, generational change is going to require a generationally sized personal investment from this community for it to occur, or we get pushed to 939th in line to apply for this permit later in the future. There is very little state assistance that will be coming to our aid to complete this project; the good news is we are re-submitting our cyanobacteria mitigation fund application to specifically assist us with the $60k+ costs necessary just for additional testing and monitoring required with the project. We are hopeful to receive this money, but it is not guaranteed. We also will receive $100k from the Town of Amherst as a result of our citizens petition, which you all voted on this March (thanks!). However, with a total project cost of nearly $450k, plus follow up and continuing testing, along with having the ability to continue stormwater retention projects to protect this investment, we will require significantly more monies available in our bank account than the project cost.

As such, with permit now in hand (arguably later than I would prefer), I’m asking you each for the most amount of money you’ve ever considered donating to the Baboosic Lake Association. Possibly to any charitable organization you’ve ever donated to, but the only one where you can look out your window and see the results of your generosity, and your family and friends can enjoy. What is a reasonable amount? It is what you are comfortable investing as a family that won’t change your life negatively, with the knowledge that you might be investing more for others that aren’t able to, who will benefit greatly from your donation. I’ve been informed other lakes have sent bills directly to waterfront/watershed owners based on splitting up the cost equally. The board members of our fundraising committee (myself, Rick Wenzel, Dino Pioli, Jeff Affeldt, and Vicky Judson) did not feel that Baboosic Lake would be suitable for that type of donation demand requirement. Our socioeconomic diversity of this community is what makes it so great. As such, certain members of our community will be investing substantially more than others to ensure that this project takes place. Now that the permit is in hand, we have begun reaching out to community members for pledges, which we would like to translate into hard donations in early to mid-May, ideally at our annual meeting if you are able to attend.

How can one donate to our 501c3 organization? Any way you’d like! Ideally we’d like to limit credit card/paypal donations through our website to avoid the processing charges by providing your donation via check, but if that is the only way you’re comfortable doing so we’ll take it! There are numerous options listed below that we can accept, including:

Cash Donations: One-time or recurring (monthly/yearly) donations made via credit card, check, or online platforms. If you’ve got a bag of nickels, we’ll take that too!
Membership via Credit Card/PayPal/Venmo
Membership Printable Form for Donations by Cash or Check
Appreciated Securities (Stocks/Bonds): Donating stock directly to a charity allows donors to avoid capital gains taxes and get a deduction for the full market value.
Planned/Legacy Gifts: Long-term donations arranged through estate planning, including wills, retirement plans, or life insurance policies.
Crypto Donations: Donating cryptocurrency is a non-cash asset option accepted by many nonprofits.
Real Estate/Physical Property: Donating land, homes, or valuable personal items like art and jewelry.
Corporate Matching Gifts: Many employers match employee donations, effectively doubling the impact of the gift. This is a big one if your company offers it!
​
If you have any questions on what or how you can contribute, please reach out to myself at [email protected]. There’s a lot of people to contact in this community and with two feet of snow on the ground without the permit in hand it was challenging to ramp up. That said, its warming up, and now its go time to get this done so we be in contact with each of you, but if you’re able to reach out first that would be appreciated. Thank you and look forward to speaking with you soon!

With thanks,
Obadiah Dart
President – Baboosic Lake Association