Article 1. Name: The name of the Corporation is: The Florida Lighthouse Association, Inc.

Article 2. Duration. The duration of the Corporation is perpetual.

Article 3. Purposes. The purpose of the corporation is as follows:

A. This corporation is a not-for-profit corporation organized under Chapter 617, Florida Statutes. It is not organized for the private gain of any person. The specific purposes of this corporation are:

1) To establish a state-wide association of lighthouse organizations, lessees, owners, and enthusiasts by which to showcase Florida's lighthouses and support the education of visitors and students from the nation and around the world concerning Florida's lighthouses, and to search for innovative ways to provide world class interpretation of these historic sites and structures.

2) To support lighthouse preservation efforts and restoration of the light stations and their traditions, including the preservation of recent and former lighthouse sites, by organizations statewide through fund-raising programs and State and Federal grants, and to provide assistance to local lighthouse organizations in their forming and getting preservation projects under way;

3) To provide the facilities and the means for the research, interpretation and publication of information about Florida's lighthouses past and present; and

4) To engage in all lawful purposes which will benefit the preservation of Florida's lighthouses as permitted under the laws of the State of Florida for nonprofit organizations.

B. To exercise all rights and powers conferred by the laws of the State of Florida upon nonprofit corporations.

C. Provided, however, that the Corporation shall not engage in any action which is not permitted to be carried on by nonprofit corporations under the Internal Revenue Code and no part of the net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, directors (commissioners), or officers; but the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation to these people for services rendered, and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of its stated purposes.

Article 4. Members. The Corporation shall have Voting Members, who shall be elected (and may be removed) by the Voting Members, and who shall have all the rights and privileges of members of the Corporation. The Bylaws may provide for Nonvoting Members of one or more classes, who shall be admitted in such manner and who shall have such rights and privileges as are set forth in the Bylaws, but who shall not have the right to vote. The name and address of each initial Voting Member is as follows:

Article 5, Initial Registered Agent and Office. The initial registered agent is Thomas W. Taylor, and the initial registered office is Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, 4931 South Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet, Florida 32127.

Article 6. Initial Board of Directors. The initial Board of Directors shall have eight members whose names are:

The Bylaws shall provide the method of election of all Directors, and the number of Directors may be raised or lowered by amendment of the bylaws but shall in no case be less than three.

Article 7. Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Other officers may be provided for in the Bylaws. Each Officer shall be elected by the Board of Commissioners (and may be removed by the Board of Commissioners) at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Bylaws. The name and address of each initial Officer of the Corporation is as follows:

 Article 8. Incorporators. The names and addresses of the incorporators of this corporation are:

Article 9. Nonstock Basis. The Corporation is organized (and shall be operated) on a nonstock basis within the meaning of the Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act, and shall not have the power to issue shares of any type or class of stock, but may issue membership certificates if so provided in the bylaws.

Article 10. Corporate Address. The street address of the Corporation's initial principal office is

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Museum, 4931 South Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have signed these Articles of Incorporation:

__________________________________________

(Joseph Pais)

Acknowledged before me on ______________________,1996, by Joseph Pais, who is personally known to me/ _____ produced ______________________ [document] as identification, and who executed the foregoing Articles of Incorporation and acknowledged to and before me that he/she executed said instrument for the purposes therein expressed.

________________________________________ NOTARY PUBLIC-STATE OF FLORIDA

Name: _______________________________
Commission No.: _______________________
My Commission Expires: _________________
 

Acknowledged before me on ______________________,1996, by Kathy Fleming, who is personally known to me/ _____ produced ______________________ [document] as identification, and who executed the foregoing Articles of Incorporation and acknowledged to and before me that he/she executed said instrument for the purposes therein expressed.

Acknowledged before me on ______________________,1996, by George Blanck, who is personally known to me/ _____ produced ______________________ [document] as identification, and who executed the foregoing Articles of Incorporation and acknowledged to and before me that he/she executed said instrument for the purposes therein expressed.

Acknowledged before me on ______________________,1996, by Lary McSparren, who is personally known to me/ _____ produced ______________________ [document] as identification, and who executed the foregoing Articles of Incorporation and acknowledged to and before me that he/she executed said instrument for the purposes therein expressed.

________________________________________ NOTARY PUBLIC-STATE OF FLORIDA

I accept designation as registered agent:

______________________________________