Our Non-Profit Organization

The Keepers of the Patos Light is entirely a volunteer organization. As a nonprofit organization we have roles that every individual might want to fill. Find one or several that best fits your interest:

Officers and Board of Directors: These are the people who oversee the organization and attend to all of the corporation’s business. According to the bylaws there are up to 15 members on the board of directors. The board is suggested by a nominating committee and elected by the membership at the annual meeting. This meeting is generally held on Patos Island in conjunction with the birthday party celebration. The officers are suggested by a nominating committee and then elected by the board at the next board meeting. The board of directors and the officers each serve a three-year term. More or less than one term may be served. Meetings of the board are held quarterly on the second Tuesday of the months of January, April, July, and October. The new board members begin at the October meeting, while the terms of the board and officers end at the end of the calendar year. With this arrangement the new members can take advantage of learning from the seasoned members before they depart. The president appoints the committee members.  Ad hoc committees might be designated as required. The standing committees are: 

• the Nominating Committee solicits members and board members to determine who should be nominated to fill the board and officers’ roles; 
• the Membership Committee keeps the register of memberships with names, addresses, email, phone numbers, the year and the amount of dues paid. They also send out the membership notices for renewal each November and the August Membership Meeting some-time in June. This committee also mails out the book orders and the lighthouse stamps requested by mail; 
• the Docent Committee solicits and schedules members to open the lighthouse from Memorial Day through Labor Day. They also must coordinate with State Parks to ensure the docents have a ride to the Island from North Beach on Orcas Island at Brandt's Landing to Patos and return; 
• the Maintenance Committee solicits and schedules members to clean up the vegetation around the lighthouse, along the trails and on the campsites. Refuge is picked up and brought back to be deposited in a collection receptacle. They also coordinate with State Parks for a ride to the island and return. 

The Membership Committee, Docent Committee and  Maintenance Committee report to the board at each meeting. The Bureau of Land Management requires that each time at least one person in the party volunteering on the island have an up-to-date certification for CPR and First Aid. Each volunteer must also be a member of the Keepers of Patos Light in order to be covered by the liability policy. State Parks requires that all persons riding on state boats must be employees or volunteers. Up to 8 persons per clean-up may attend.

At least two, and up to 4 docents or 8 Maintenance persons per visit may ride on State Park boats.  Only employees or volunteer workers may ride on Park boats.