Our Mission
An Island Community working together to preserve and protect the unique ocean-side experience; embracing family in a safe, respectful environment for current and future generations.
IHC BYLAWS
Click here to download a copy of the IHC Bylaws and Ownership Agreement or scroll down to read them on this page.
Island home club rules & Guidelines
These rules and guidelines have been prepared for renters, owners, and guests. They contain critical information with which you should familiarize everyone residing in your cottage. These rules are in effect at all times of the year and not just "in season", during the time that the cookhouse is open.
The granite island upon which you are situated is beautiful but may also be dangerous if not treated with respect and caution. Over the years, Island policies and rules have been established to minimize physical danger and facilitate a cohesive community. Experience is the foundation upon which these have been developed. Failure to adhere to them may prove harmful, possibly fatal, and may negatively impact your experience and health.
Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the IHC rules and guidelines:
Download the rule book (pdf).
THE ISLAND HOME CLUB, INC. REVISED BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I - Name and Location
The name of the Corporation shall be Island Home Club, Inc. and its location shall be Georgetown, Maine.
ARTICLE II - Purpose
The purposes of said Corporation are to acquire by gift, devise, purchase or otherwise, real and personal property in the Town of Georgetown, Maine and to hold perpetually, maintain, improve, develop and operate the same without profit to itself for purpose of providing and maintaining floats, runways, piers, walkways, playgrounds, bathing or other recreational facilities, telephones, and/or buildings or other structures designed for meetings, dining hall, or recreational purposes or both for the benefit of its members and their families; to acquire, operate, and maintain a water system or systems and sewage disposal system to serve its members and their families; to acquire, operate, maintain and extend or to provide by contract or otherwise for the operation, maintenance and extension of insect controls, facilities for garbage or refuse disposal, conservation of forests and wild life, and other facilities designed to promote the welfare and health of its members and their families; and in general to provide and maintain such facilities and to do any and all such things as the Corporation shall deem necessary and expedient and to promote the health and the civic and social welfare of its members and their families.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section I
a. Every person owning any real estate interest on Malden Island, Hen Island or Mink Island shall, as a condition of such ownership, agree to accept and be governed by these by-laws and must, concurrently, agree to the "Ownership Agreement" governing the ecological balance of people on said islands. The and conditions of said “Ownership Agreement THE ISLAND HOME CLUB, INC.
b. No person may become a member of the Island Home Club, Inc. unless he becomes the owner of a real estate interest in Malden Island, Hen Island or Mink Island and agrees to subscribe to and be bound by these by-laws, which he shall do for each separate real estate interest he may own on said islands.
Section II
Any owner, upon written request following a unanimous vote of all other owners, is required to relinquish membership in the Corporation and sell his property or share therein to the Corporation as provided for in the Ownership Agreement.
Section III
On all matters involving assessments or expenditures on which the membership shall be entitled to vote there shall be only one vote for each lot. Unless otherwise stated in these by-laws, a majority vote will be effective to determine any question. If any lot is held in trust, the trustee or trustees shall designate a beneficiary to vote for that lot.
Section IV A quorum shall consist of attendance in person or by proxy of owners entitled to cast a majority of votes, as defined in Section III above.
ARTICLE IV - Officers and Board of Directors
Section I
The officers of the Island Home Club, Inc. shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Clerk, Island Engineer, And Cookhouse Manager(s). Officers shall hold office for a term of two years or until their successors are elected and qualified. No officer shall hold more than one office at a time.
Section II
The Board of Directors of the Island Home Club, Inc. shall be composed of seven members: the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Clerk, Island Engineer, and Cookhouse Manager.
Section III
The Executive Committee of the Island Home Club, Inc. shall be composed of four members; the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section IV
A Nominating Committee, appointed by the president, shall be established at least 45 days prior to the Memorial Day Weekend meeting. It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate a candidate for each office to be filled at the Memorial Day Weekend meeting. The Nominating Committee or the President acting on its behalf shall report to the members at least 21 days before the Memorial Day Weekend Meeting.
Section V
In the event an Officer is unable to finish out his/her term, the Executive Committee shall appoint a replacement for the balance of the term.
Section VI
The term of officers and directors shall begin on the first Monday following Labor Day of the year in which they are elected.
ARTICLE V - Duties of Officers
President
The President shall be the chief executive officer the exercise general Corporation supervision and over shall its interest and welfare. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation and the Board of Directors. The President shall appoint all committees. He/she shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. Vice President The Vice President shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation and Board of Directors in the absence of the President. He/she shall also act as chairman ex-officio when directed to do so by the President.
Secretary
The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of meetings of the Corporation and the Board of Directors. He/she shall keep a list of names and addresses of members of the Corporation. He/she shall give notice of meetings and shall conduct such other correspondence as the Corporation or Board of Directors may direct.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect the assessments, receive the funds of the Corporation and deposit them in such bank or banks as the Board of Directors may select. He/she shall draw thereon by check for payment of bills authorized by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer’s account shall be surveyed every two years, and whenever a new Treasurer is elected. He/she shall present a financial statement at each regular meeting of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the Board of Directors shall determine and the cost of the bond shall be paid for by the Corporation.
Clerk
The Clerk shall be a resident of Maine and perform duties as required by laws of the State of Maine. He/she need not be a member of the Corporation.
Island Engineer
The Island Engineer shall plan and supervise the maintenance, repair, and improvements of the physical plant, and shall supervise the activities of the Island Home Club, Inc. Caretaker.
Cookhouse Manager(s)
The Cookhouse responsible for Manager(s) the shall operation be of the Cookhouse. The Manager(s) shall report the status of the Cookhouse operation at regular Island Home Club, Inc. meetings. Major capital purchases, meal prices, and season calendar will be discussed.
ARTICLE VI - Duties of the Board of Directors
Section I
The Board of Directors shall have power and authority over the management, policies, properties and financial affairs of the Corporation.
Section II
Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at the call of the President or shall be held upon written request of four members of the Board. The purpose of such a meeting shall be given and no business except that mentioned in the call shall be transacted. At least five days notice of a meeting shall be given.
Section III
The Board of Directors is charged with responsibility for promulgating rules and regulations for the general conduct of the members, guests and renters. These rules and regulations shall include but not be restricted to:
1. Cookhouse attendance, fees and conduct.
2. Waterfront affairs: safety and conduct.
3. Disposal of rubbish and garbage.
4. Fire prevention and safety.
ARTICLE VII - Meetings
Section I
A regular winter meeting shall be held during the months of January or February at a place, which may be outside the State of Maine, designated by the President. The purpose of the meeting shall be to receive the Treasurer's report for the previous year, to plan and vote a budget for the current year.
Section II
The annual meeting shall be held on Memorial Day week-end on Malden or Hen Island for the purpose of election of Officers and Directors.
Section III
A regular summer meeting shall be held on Memorial Day weekend on Malden or Hen Island.
Section IV
Special meetings shall be held when directed by the President or the Board of Directors or when requested in writing by members holding a majority of votes having the right to vote at each meeting. A meeting requested by the membership shall be called for a date not less than ten or more than 30 days after the request is made.
ARTICLE VIII Use Restrictions and Membership Obligations
Section I
Use and enjoyment of the Common Property and Services of the Corporation is restricted to members, renters and guests of both.
Section II
Assessments made by the Corporation upon the owners may be voted by the owners at any meeting and shall be a lien on the lot owned by said owners until the assessments are paid. In the case of joint ownership of a lot, each owner is responsible for the entire financial obligation of the lot to the Corporation. Each owner is responsible for obligation to the financial Corporation of his guests, visitors and renters.
Section III
Leasing (any five week or long rental) does not need approval of Corporation membership the first year but for a second year or any number of subsequent leasings will require a two thirds vote of the Corporation members.
Section IV
No approval of Corporation members is needed for repeat rentals, except as provided in Section III above, unless there are objections by any member to having the renter return. In such a case, a two-thirds vote of the members of the Corporation shall be needed to ask the renting member not to rent to the said renter.
ARTICLE IX - Changes in the By-Laws
Amendments to the By-Lays may be proposed in writing at any meeting and shall not be acted upon until the next meeting. Written notice or any proposed change in By-Laws shall be given every member and no change in the By-Laws shall be effected without 8 affirmative lot votes of the Corporation (or seven in the event the Corporation owns a cottage).
THE ISLAND HOME CLUB, INC. REVISED OWNERSHIP AGREEMENT
Whereas the undersigned are the owners of all of the land comprising Malden Island, Hen Island and Mink Island in Five Islands Harbor in the town of Georgetown, Maine; and Whereas there is limited space for the Island community to use and enjoy common property; and Whereas the community residing on said real estate requires sufficient water, air space, community facilities, sewerage disposal systems, and other facilities so that there may be full enjoyment of said real estate by the owners of the same and their families; Now therefore, the undersigned have joined together to enter into an agreement of ownership of said real estate as follows;
1. Ownership (or any part of joint ownership) of a lot of land on Malden Island, Hen Island or Mink Island may only be had after a proposed owner is elected as a member of the Island Home Club, Inc. and after the proposed owner has accepted and agreed to abide by the by-laws of said Island Home Club, Inc. A certificate signed by the prospective owner and submitted to the President of the Island Home Club, Inc. shall be sufficient for all purposes to evidence the requirements of this paragraph.
2. Any owner/owners who wish to sell the entire real estate lot shall first offer the same to the then members of the Island Home Club, Inc. and shall notify the President of said Corporation in writing of the desire to sell. Upon receipt of the intention to sell, the President shall, within a reasonable time, notify all other members of the Corporation in writing, in order to give them an opportunity to bid on said real estate interest before it is offered for sale outside of the Corporation membership.
3. If, after 30 days from postmarked date of President's letter, no Corporation member or member of his/her immediate family has made an acceptable offer on the lot, the Corporation member may make the availability of the lot known to persons not presently members of the Corporation, except that no public advertising or use of real estate agents (except to get an appraisal) may be employed without a majority vote of the Corporation members.
4. It is required that any prospective buyer shall either have visited or rented at the Island Home Club, Inc. for a total of four weeks, or equivalent thereof, prior to purchase of a real estate lot.
5. After selection of a prospective buyer(s), the owning Corporation member shall give notice in writing to the President of the name and address of the prospective buyer(s) and the price to be paid. Upon receipt of such notice, the President shall call a meeting of the Island Home Club, Inc. within 30 days for this purpose of voting the prospective buyer(s) into membership (conditional upon the actual sale of the lot) and having the buyer(s) agree to the by-laws of the Island Home Club, Inc. (which shall be a condition of any change in ownership) or for the purpose of voting to have the corporation buy the lot at an appraisal price obtained by having the President acquire a professional appraisal of the said real estate. If the President's appraisal does not agree with the seller's appraisal, a 3rd appraisal shall be made by a party agreeable to both the President and the Seller, and that appraisal shall be final. In any event, the members of the Corporation shall vote on whether or not:
(a) to accept the "acceptance" of the By Laws by the buyer, to elect the buyer to the Island Home Club, Inc. membership and to approve the sale, an affirmative vote of 8 out of the 10 lot votes (or 7 in the event that the Corporation owns a cottage) shall be required.
(b) to purchase the said real estate interest at the appraised value obtained by the President.
(c) If neither (a) nor (b) are voted affirmatively, the owner will submit another prospective buyer, at a subsequent meeting to be called by the President. If the owner submits 3 prospective buyers, none of which is accepted, then the Corporation will buy the lot.
6. An owner who wishes to sell his share of a jointly owned real estate lot must present a buyer who is acceptable according to 5.(a) and 5.(c) above, and also, who is acceptable to the remaining owner(s) of that lot.
7. No real estate lot shall be owned by more than two unrelated families.
8. Any dispute of disagreement of whatever nature that may arise under the terms of this agreement, or that may arise in connection with the transfer of real estate located on Malden Island, Hen Island or Mink Island shall be finally and absolutely settled by arbitration under the terms of Association, the and American the Arbitration decision of any arbitrator or arbitrators shall be final and binding on all concerned.
9. The undersigned hereby agree to bind any real estate interest owned by them on Malden Island, Hen Island or Mink Island to this agreement and to subject the sale and transfer of said real estate to this agreement.
