YOUR SUPPORT PROTECTS ESLA WATERS

Nearly 500 individuals, couples, trusts, and businesses generously supported ESLA in 2022. Thank you! In 2023, we’ll again continue work to protect, preserve, monitor, educate, and advocate for water quality and member enjoyment of their properties. And we’ll be adding new projects.

A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT’S ON ESLA’s AGENDA FOR 2023

New in 2023 is a shoreline greenbelt workshop with contractors and “plankton drags” to gain insight into levels and distribution of critical, bottom-of-the-food-chain phytoplankton in our waters. We’ll remove invasive species like Eurasian watermilfoil and purple loosestrife that your dollars have helped us effectively control. And we’ll aggressively advocate and educate to keep potential disruptive invasives out. Again, ESLA is offering free personalized Greenbelt analysis for members. Request yours at [email protected] Staff and students from Northwestern Michigan College are back for an encore — at ESLA’s urging — to learn more about the deep waters of Elk Lake.  In 2022, their research confirmed the presence of invasive, ecosystem-disrupting quagga mussels. With three newsletters and monthly emailed ESLA-Blasts, we’ll keep you informed.

“IT’S A SHORE THING” SPEAKERS YOU’LL WANT TO HEAR

From April to October, we have an exciting lineup of Shore Thing events speakers, including a report in July from the DNR’s top fisheries biologist in northwestern Michigan on the results of the 2022 fish netting survey in Elk Lake. We will videotape all major events and share them with our members on this website and via ESLA-Blasts.

LOVE YOUR LOONS, LAKES, RIVERS: SUPPORT ESLA

ESLA dues, at your discretion, range from $50-$1,000. Not surprisingly, costs for contractors, hosting events, supporting research, ensuring navigational safety with Skegemog-to-Torch River buoys, and other ESLA work have increased. For returning members, consider — if you can — increasing your support level or even becoming a Champion or Legend.  For the more than two-thirds of those of you sharing the waterfront who have not been paid ESLA dues, please consider joining at any level. In 2022, ESLA had 16 Champions with immediate gifts of $5,000 or 5-year pledges to reach $5,000; 23 Business Supporters gave $100-$500; 4 dues contributions were $1,000 or more; 16 were $500-$999; 41 were $250-$499; 211 were $100-$249; 159 were $50-$99. Questions? Contact [email protected] or membership Coordinator Deanna Seifried at 937-602-2295 or a board member who may live near you. Contact Us

To pay 2023 dues or other ESLA support with a credit card, click the button “Membership Dues” below.  Or write a check to the Elk-Skegemog Lakes Association. Send to P.O. Box 8, Elk Rapids, MI. 49629. Membership is open to all.

*ESLA is a 501(c)(3) IRS-certified not-for-profit organization

IS THIS YOUR YEAR TO JOIN ESLA’s CHAMPIONS?

ESLA’S successful launch in 2022 of a Champion program allowing supporters to show a deep commitment to meet known and future water quality challenges is back in 2023. Champions may make a $5,000 contribution in a single year or commit to reaching $5,000 in support with at least a $1,000 initial contribution. Sixteen individuals, couples, and family trusts stepped up in 2022. Their names were listed in the Member Celebration Newsletter in February ’23. Contributions funded ESLA’s new Strategic Environmental Fund. Questions or Interest in Becoming a Champion? Contact Dean Ginther at 231-676-2928 or [email protected].

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ESLA’s ’23 SHORE THINGS and ANNUAL MEETING

Members turned out in large numbers for ESLA’s Shore Things and Annual Meeting last year. We expect no fewer in 2023. All but the April event will be held at the Pavilion on the bay side of the East Bay boat launch at Elk Rapids Village Marina harbor. The April 19 gathering will be hosted at the Dam Shop restaurant and bar of the Elk Rapids Marina on Elk Lake, 118 Bridge St.

April 19 Wednesday 4 p.m. Shore Thing (@ the Dam Shop): A history lesson featuring four speakers with deep ties to the past of Elk Lake and the village. We’ll gather at 4:30 p.m. for wine, nibbles, and chatting. ESLA President Bob Campbell will emcee. Speakers will be:

1. Lou Sanford, author of the touching memoir “Meadowpoint,” recounts the love story of his family and Elk Lake. Meadowpoint is the estate where Lou and his wife Karen have lived full-time since the late 1990s. Lou also spent childhood summers at the family estate which once had 800 feet of frontage on Elk Lake.
2. Norm Veliquette, of cherry growing and processing fame, will talk about Rotary Park’s recent renovations, especially the storyboards and huge mural detailing the connection of greater Elk Rapids to the river and lake.
3. Bob McCririe, ESLA’s newest board member, will share the passed-down family stories. His great-grandfather owned and operated steamships that delivered passengers to vacation homes and resorts on the Chain of Lakes.
4. John Conrad, general manager of the ER Marina on Elk Lake, has ties dating back many generations to key movers and shakers in the Elk Rapids business community. He’ll regale us with his stories, too.

We urge ESLA members to stay after the program for a drink at the cash bar and varied food truck menu offerings thedamshop.com/menu for onsite or takeout. Our membership support helps reciprocate the marina owners’ decision this year to include a paid ESLA membership to its nearly 100 boat slip renters as part of their annual contracts.

May 24 Wednesday 5 p.m. Shore Thing (@ the Harbor Pavilion): Glen Chown, the nationally-renowned Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy chief executive, will explain how the organization has achieved such success and highlight acquisitions of sensitive and important properties in and near the Elk and Skegemog watersheds. ESLA past president Bob Kingon will emcee.

June 23 Friday 5 p.m. Annual Meeting (@Harbor Pavilion): We’ll introduce members to ESLA board leaders with key roles carrying out ESLA’s mission to protect, preserve, monitor, educate, and advocate for our precious waters and shorelines. We hope to deliver news from some early summer water quality work. Lots of food goodies, wine, and beer to wash it down.

July 27 Thursday 5 p.m. Shore Thing (@ Harbor Pavilion):  ESLA’s favorite DNR fisheries biologist Heather Hettinger will discuss the findings of last summer’s first fish survey on Elk Lake in more than a decade. ESLA’s “Fish Guy” Ken Krentz will emcee. Our lake association’s advocacy for the survey was a key factor in bringing DNR boats and specialists to our waters for the sampling. Spoiler alert: There’ll be good and worrisome news.

August 25 Friday 5 p.m. Shore Thing (@ Harbor Pavilion): Leslie Meyers, Antrim County’s new Director of Dams, will discuss how she’s following in predecessor Mark Stone’s path to better understand the risks and potential fixes to prevent damage from more frequent high-volume rainstorms. The phenomenon has revealed potential vulnerabilities for our shorelines and the dams in the Elk River Chain of Lakes. ESLA this year helped fund a follow-up to the studies that is specifically focused on the Elk River and Torch Lake outlet into Torch River. ESLA Vice President George Seifried will emcee.

September 21 Thursday 5 p.m. Shore Thing (@ Harbor Pavilion): This date is temporarily leaving this date open for several possible programs with potential revelations from research this summer.

Have a Shore Thing speaker or subject suggestion? Send an email to [email protected].