Section 1 – Titles and Terms of Office
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
B. Term of office – one year, June 1 to May 31.
Section 2 – Collective Responsibility of
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the implementation of policies established by the Board of Directors or the general membership. It is their responsibility to see that the
Association continues to be a viable organization. Like the Directors, they are responsible for recognizing and calling to the attention of the Board of Directors items which require action.
Section 3 – The President – Richard Cripps – president – marscripps1986@gmail.com
A. Is authorized to act in the name of the Association, and is responsible for initiating or responding to correspondence of a routine nature. Copies to be filed with the Secretary.
B. Shall arrange and call regular, special or emergency meetings of the Board of Directors.
C. Shall preside over the Board of Directors meetings and General Membership meetings.
D. Is authorized to make expenditures as part of a program previously authorized by the Board of Directors. Such expenditures must be reported at the next meeting of the Board of Directors. In case of emergency, the president may poll the Board of Directors to gain approval to make an unplanned expenditure.
E. Shall keep the Vice President advised of the status of all activities in case the Vice President should be called upon to perform in the President’s behalf.
Bio: Richard and his wife Annette are long-time visitors and home owners in Merritt Island. Formerly from Baltimore, Maryland, Annette’s parent came to Merritt Island in 1980 and we watched the area’s growth and challenges. Richard is retired and his background is in finance where his last role was Chief Investment Officer for an asset management company. He is a 1979 graduate of James Madison University and holds a professional designation as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). His primary concerns are environmental issues related to the lagoon, economic & infrastructure development, and the underrepresentation of our community to Brevard County governance.
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Section 4 – The Vice President – Bob Wise – bobwise@bellsouth.net
A. Shall aid the President in all duties at the discretion of the President and shall act in the President’s behalf during his absence.
B. Shall serve as the coordinator of all committees.
BIO: Bob Wise is a retired software engineer and a Viet Nam era veteran. He likes to bicycle and kayak in his uncommitted spare time. He and wife Kae volunteer at the King Center and help to care for two colonies of feral cats. Their two daughters, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren all live in Florida.
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Section 5 – The Secretary – Laurie Crooks – lauriecrooks@gmail.com
A. Shall maintain minutes of all meetings and provide the President with a copy as soon after each meeting as possible.
B. Is authorized to originate and sign correspondence of an informative or inquiring nature. Such correspondence must be made available at the next Board of Directors meeting and filed in the Secretary’s files. The President should either be given a copy or given the opportunity to review the letter before filing.
C. May initiate and sign correspondence which commits the Association to an act or a program or reflects the policies of the Association, but only when so authorized by the Board of Directors. Such correspondence must be countersigned by the President, unless earlier waived by the Board of Directors. Copies must be made available at the next Board of Directors meeting and filed in the Secretary’s files.
D. Shall keep the original of these Bylaws including all amendments and make copies available to any member upon request. Shall provide every member of the Board of Directors with a copy of the Bylaws upon assumption of office.
BIO: Laurie Crooks, a former Atlantan-Chicagoan, I moved to Merritt Island because of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and perceived local and national environmental concerns. I settled in Island Crossings and have joined the Brevard Zoo’s Legacy Program to build a state-of-the-art aquarium in Cape Canaveral. Also, I have become active in the MRC and Sea Turtle Preservation Society as a volunteer. Along with these organizations, I became terribly concerned with the possible construction of a hotel basically across the street from my house. The EMIHOA publicized the problem and meetings to address it. At that time, I decided it would be a good idea to join the group and to help out in whatever way I could. So, I did. My education and training background: Northwestern University B.A., University of Georgia M.A., MEd, Georgia State University MLS, EDS. ATEEG Certification (Advanced Training in Environmental Education in Georgia), Facilitator for Project Learning Tree, Project Wet, Adopt-a-Stream, Project Wild, Monarchs Across Georgia, and Garden Earth Naturalist. Board Member of Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia, Monarchs Across Georgia, and Odyssey of the Mind of Georgia I was a teacher of high school gifted humanities (English, Art, Music, and Social Studies) in Illinois and Georgia for twenty-five years and then a school media specialist for eight years. During those years I was team leader, yearbook editor, newspaper editor, cheerleading coach, dance team coach, Sponsor of Junior Master Gardener, Odyssey of the Mind, Model U.N., Adopt a Stream, National Honor Society and DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce Community Leader twice. In addition, I have successfully written grants for basic school supplies, environmental concerns, library equipment, and school facility improvement.
I look forward to using my organizational, writing, creative, and leadership skills to good advantage within the EMICA and I hope to meet all of you at the monthly meetings at the Lighthouse Christian Church.
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Section 6 – The Treasurer – Lisa Ruckman – lisa.ruckman@yahoo.com
A. Shall make expenditures authorized by the Board of Directors and the President.
B. Shall keep permanent records of all financial deposits and expenditures and make them available to the Audit Committee yearly.
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The Support Committee
C. Shall maintain an up-to-date membership list of the association.
D. Shall participate in the preparation of the annual budget, shall provide monthly financial reports to the general membership, and shall make budget information available throughout the year as requested by the Board of Directors.
Membership – Laura Hanson – laurahanson2010@gmail.com
Bio: Home Girls Brevard @ Lokation Real Estate: Laura, a University of North Florida summa cum laude graduate, brings over 20 years of industry experience and holds a Broker’s License. With expertise spanning commercial and residential sectors, including loans, appraisals, and 1031 exchanges, Laura provides strategic market evaluations and expert guidance for property sales. Partnering with Laura is Cheryld, a Realtor® since 2005, who brings over 15 years of management experience and holds certifications as a Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) and Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR). Cheryld emphasizes integrity and excellence, ensuring smooth transactions and client satisfaction. Together, as Home Girls Brevard, Laura and Cheryld offer unparalleled service, expertise, and personalized insights to guide clients to real estate success with exceptional care. Trust our team for all your real estate needs.
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Creative Director: Newsletter, Website & Sponsors – Aili (Smiley) Melton – aili.melton2@gmail.com
Bio: Aili Melton, better known as Smiley Aili was born in Morocco to parents immigrating from Finland to the USA. I began my studies in art in high school and then attended the School of Visual Arts in NYC for advertising, fine art & photography. I have decades of experience as an art director, creative director and general manager of various agencies, printing companies and publications.
I especially like to work with community businesses helping them to grow and boost the local economy. Community involvement is of utmost importance, as a board member of EMICA I am helping all of us grow.
My business is making my clients successful with unique and eye-catching marketing materials. Before I begin designing for my clients I develop a friendly and professional relationship learning as much as I can in order to produce concise marketing materials for an accurate representation of each client.
My fine art is fun and whimsical and I am inspired by the beauty of nature. When people look at my artwork, I want them to be happy and joyful. I enjoy re-purposing, painting murals, faux finishing, handyman jobs and gardening.
Awards I received: 2007 Business of the Year from the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce & the Alexander Award for utmost merit from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, NY
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Web Site – Aili (Smiley) Melton & Amy Simons
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Social Director – Cheryld Hanson – cheryldhanson@gmail.com
Bio: Since relocating to Merritt Island in 2016, I have been dedicated to serving the local community as a realtor with LoKation Real Estate. Prior to this role, I honed my leadership skills as a manager at Winn-Dixie, where I developed a strong commitment to customer service and community engagement. As a Christian woman, my faith is central to my life, and I find great joy in attending church and participating in faith-based activities. My deep connection to Merritt Island and unwavering dedication to my clients enable me to provide personalized and insightful real estate services, helping individuals and families find their ideal homes in this beautiful area.