FoKLSS latest news and AGM invitation

Greetings!

Our second clean up of the summer was along Cottonwood Creek from Falls Park down to the railway line, and it was part of the celebration of BC Rivers Day. The weather was perfect and we had a great turn out of volunteers. There were 1000s of pieces of litter and trash picked up in and around the park and down the creek. The garbage removed from these delicate ecosystems weighed over 420 lbs (plus 3 shopping carts and two tires). Our volunteer efforts are a crucial part of keeping the waterways habitable for wildlife - and they are fun too.

One happy volunteer commented afterwards. "What an amazing thing to be a part of. It was really eye opening how much garbage there was. ... I will definitely come and help again."

We are planning another beach clean-up before the snow with the help of the FoKLSS board, members and community volunteers. The tentative date for your diary will be Tuesday, November 5. We'll confirm this and the location nearer the time.

Our Annual General Meeting

You are invited to our Annual General Meeting

Date and Time: Saturday 26 October, 3.30pm to 5.00pm

Location: the Jam Factory, 303 Vernon St, Nelson, V1L 4E3

This will be an opportunity to update everyone on what has happened in 2023 and 2024 - our successes, but also what led to the hiatus, and how we have since responded. More importantly, it will also be a chance to reflect on the theme of Sustainability and on how we can move forward.

We all want a sustainable lake with healthy ecosystems, clean water, natural fish and wildlife habitat. A crucial part of this is the dissemination of information and education about this amazing river basin we call our home. Sustainability also means promoting human well-being through sustainable livelihoods and preserving the lake’s culture and spiritual essence. We need to explore how we can do this together.

Light Refreshments will be provided

RSVP to Executive Director

If you would like to attend the meeting via Zoom or would like to receive more details, please also contact us at Executive Director.

You will find a copy of our formal AGM notice at the end of this newsletter. It includes a proposal to change the status of FoKLSS from a not-for-profit society to a registered charity. There is also an invitation to request an electonic copy of the proposed revised Bylaws if you would like to see these in advance of the meeting.

Your Membership - Stay in the Loop!

It is very easy to sign up or renew your membership and it is so important to us.

We really hope will.

You can do it right now, just CLICK HERE

We need your support now - more than ever before!

FRIENDS OF KOOTENAY LAKE STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY

(the “Society”)

NOTICE OF THE 2024 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held

on October 26, 2024, at 3.30 p.m.

at: The Jam Factory, 303 Vernon St, Nelson, BC, V1L 4E3

and virtually via Zoom: login details, available on request Click here

for the following purposes:

To approve the minutes of the 2023 Annual General Meeting;

To receive and consider the financial statements of the Society for the financial year ended December 31, 2023 with budgets for 2024.

To elect Board Members for the ensuing year;

To report on activities and reflect on the theme of Future Sustainability – for the Kootenay Lake basin and for the Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society

To vote on the following proposed special resolutions:

SPECIAL RESOLUTION I.

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

WHEREAS:

A. The Society wished to alter its Constitution in preparation for a potential application to the Canada Revenue Agency for registered charitable organization status.

B. The alteration of the Constitution of the Society must be approved by a Special Resolution pursuant to Section 15 of the Societies Act , S.B.C. 2015, c. 18.

RESOLVED, AS SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS, THAT:

1. The Constitution of the Society be altered by replacing the existing Constitution with the following:

“The name of the Society is FRIENDS OF KOOTENAY LAKE STEWARDSHIP SOCIETY

The purposes of the Society are:

To protect the environment and health of Kootenay Lake for the benefit of the public by:

1. developing and delivering courses, workshops, and expertise to advance education and encourage, empower and educate the public on how they can participate in the ecosystem preservation, protection, and stewardship of Kootenay Lake by:

a. participating in water and wildlife monitoring, data collection, and research programs;

b. participating in and initiating independent wetland and shoreline restoration, remediation, and protection activities;

c. keeping the shoreline and near shoreline areas in a natural state; and,

d. avoiding actions and behaviours that are harmful to the lake ecosystem.

2. supporting pollution and ecosystem conservation by operating water and wildlife monitoring programs, by cleaning up or remediating polluted water and wetlands

3. undertaking activities ancillary and incidental to the aforementioned charitable purposes.

2. Any one Director and/or Senior Manager of the Society is hereby authorized to file, or appoint an agent to file, a constitution alteration application with Province of British Columbia Registrar and to do all such other and further acts as are necessary or desirable to give effect to the alteration to the Constitution.

SPECIAL RESOLUTION II.

BYLAW AMENDMENT

A revised version of the Bylaws is also available.

Please request an electronic copy here if you would like to see the details in advance. Printed copies will be available at the meeting.