Board Minutes – Dec. 16, 2010

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Elk-Skegemog Lake Association

December 16, 2010
Board Meeting Minutes

Board Members Present:  Jack Bay, Dale Claudpierre, Julie Courtade, Melissa Culver,
Gina Dewildt, Kathy DiMercurio, Peter DiMercurio, Steve Flechter, Ron Gurdak, Dave Hauser, Bob Kingon, Tom Klingler, Dave Lawicki, Lou Ann McKimmy, Brenda Miller, Kent Reynolds, Jim Sak, Robert Stibbs, Thomas Yocum.

Members absent:  Jim Curnow, Dean Ginther, Brian Taylor, Terry Woods, Stan Zenas and Glory Wiltjer.

Others Present: Ruth Bay, Cheryl Werth, Jack Blesma, and interns Kyle Doran, Conor Cocking and Eric Drews.

Proceedings:

  • Meeting called to order at 10:00AM by President Bob Kingon.
      
  • Minutes of the September 16, 2010 meeting previously emailed were approved.
      
  • Membership -    Bob Kingon gave Brenda Miller’s report  – 623 members   paid in 2010.   The 244 Rapid River property owners have been added to the ESLA database and will receive the January Newsletter.
      
  • Treasurer’s Report was deferred until later in the meeting.
      
  • Guest speaker, Cheryl Werth, Elk Rapids’ William Grace Memorial Harbormaster presented an overview of plans for new courtesy dockage in the east side of the Elk Rapids harbor.
      
  • Interns Presentation- The three Elk Rapids High School summer interns, Kyle Doran, Conor Cocking and Eric Drews presented their findings using a PowerPoint format, with their formal paper to be published on the ESLA website and parts of the report to be printed in future newsletters.
      
  • Committee Reports-
    Governmental Relations-Member Ron Gurdak reported on his discussions with the DNRE concerning boat speeds in the Elk River. The DNRE position is that the No-Wake regulation applies within 100 feet of docks, swim platforms or buoys and should keep boat speeds low in the Elk River.  The Antrim sheriff deputies have been issuing citations and warnings in the River based upon the No-Wake Law.   The Board agreed that no further action is needed on this matter. Ron will provide an article for the spring newsletter.

    Dave Hauser also reported on some of the local township activities.

    Communication Committee-Chair Kent Reynolds presented a draft ESLA Communications Plan for 2011-2013. He invited Board members to add to the plan and comment on the goals and objectives in the plan.  The next steps are to break out specific tasks and assignments, including the involvement of the other ESLA committees. A motion was made and seconded to adopt the Communication Plan, and the motion was approved.

    Kent also unveiled the new Board selected ELSA logo and provided a mock-up of the redesigned ESLA website.  The Directors provided a general approval of the design and functions, with some concern raised about the orientation of the photo used in the banner.

    Finance Committee-Bob Stibbs first gave the Treasurer’s report and then Bob Kingon discussed the formation of an ad hoc finance committee in November, consisting of Bob Stibbs, Steve Flechter and Pete DiMercurio.  A motion was made and seconded to create a permanent Finance Committee as a part of the committee structure of ESLA.  The motion was passed by a unanimous vote.

    The Finance Committee felt that the Association should develop a financial investment policy, a draft of which had earlier been emailed to Board members.  The policy statement was explained, followed by questions, comments and suggestions from various Board members.

    A motion to approve the Investment Policy set forth by the Finance Committee was seconded and passed.Steve Flechter, an ESLA At Large Director, discussed the monies held by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and whether ESLA should take a passive or aggressive approach in promoting contributions to the Foundation. Because of time constraints, differing points of view were not fully discussed and debate will be continued in March 2011.

    About 5 percent of the funds held by the Foundation in ESLA’s name can be withdrawn each year to finance some of ESLA’s recurring costs such as the intern program. There was general agreement among the Directors that ESLA should take advantage of this opportunity, and Steve will investigate the procedure for this withdrawal for 2010.

  • Other Business:
    Bob Kingon and Thom Yocum will attend a Fracking Round Table discussion hosted by the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council on December 17, 2010.

    Bob Kingon suggested ESLA sponsor a photo contest and a committee was formed. Board members Lou Ann McKimmy, Bob Kingon, Ron Gurdak, Gina Dewildt, Jack Bay and ESLA member Dana Vannoy all volunteered to serve as organizers and judges.

    Thom Yocum and Bob Kingon are part of a working group formed by the Conservation Network to seek funds for the improvement of fishing habitats in the Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed, to include Rapid River.

    ESLA is also working with the Watershed Center – Grand Traverse Bay in developing an inventory of Rapid River to determine sources of sediment disposition and measures of deleterious effects of the sediment on fish and wildlife habitats, as well as other environmental concerns.

    • Meeting adjourned at 12:26PM.

    Minutes submitted by Recording Secretary, Kathy DiMercurio

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