Douglas Lake eNews 8/20/2021

DLIA Annual Meeting Tuesday August 24^th, 2021

          Following serious discussion of the pros/cons of holding the DLIA Annual Meeting Tuesday night, the Executive Board voted yesterday to proceed with the meeting at Hidden River Golf and Casting Club. We are aware of members’ concerns about the increasing risk of the very contagious COVID-19 Delta variant but hope that the vaccinated population of DLIA members will still want to attend the meeting. Please help to prevent spread of COVID indoors by wearing a mask during the meeting. The business meeting will be held in the restaurant area of Hidden River, with chairs set up at tables throughout the room.
          Registration begins at 5:30 pm at tables set up inside the main doors. A cash bar social hour is on the schedule for 6-7 p.m. Weather cooperating, folks may wish to spread out on the outdoor patio of the Hidden Valley's main building. The annual meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. There are two speakers – first, Randy Bricker, Chief of the Pellston Fire Department and Head of the Emmet County Emergency Squad stationed at the Pellston Fire Station. The second speaker is Sergeant Earl Manuel, Recreation & Marine Division, Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office. Their talks are not expected to be long. We will have brief updates on the Merganser Trapping & Removal Project carried out on the Lake this summer and the status of the Douglas Lake boat ramp that has had some deterioration issues this summer.
          There are two important items that require votes of approval from the membership:

Election of DLIA Treasurer for a two-year term beginning August 25, 2021. The current Treasurer Suzanne Witthoff is eligible for a second term and has been nominated by the Nominating Committee and endorsed by the Executive Board. In accordance with the DLIA Bylaws, nominations will also be solicited from the floor.
An amendment to the DLIA Articles of Incorporation that indemnifies individuals who voluntarily serve as voting members on governing boards of nonprofit organization from personal monetary liability in the conduct of the nonprofit's business (as provided for in Michigan State statutes applicable to nonprofit organizations).

For those members who are unable to attend the meeting for whatever reason, we strongly request that you complete a Proxy Vote designating another DLIA member who will be attending the meeting, to vote on your behalf in accordance with your instructions.
The proxy voting form and a separate sheet with a fuller explanation of the proposed Amendment are posted on the DLIA web site, under the Member tab. Click on the links below:

PROXY FORM

AMENDMENT to ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

You must designate on the Proxy Form who will vote on your behalf. You can designate either Mary Ellen Sheridan (President) or Barb Huey (Secretary) as your designee if you are uncertain about who may be attending. Please complete, sign, scan and return the Proxy Form to info@douglaslake.org by Tuesday afternoon. Or you may give your signed Proxy to someone who is attending the meeting and will vote on your behalf.

DL Boat Ramp - Use Caution!!

Unfortunately, the DLIA Boat Ramp Volunteers who have been monitoring the deterioration of the rebar-reinforced concrete planks that make up the boat ramp, have advised us that segments of rebar continue to separate from the plank section furthest out into the Lake. They have made what adjustments they can but caution that those launching and recovering boats, especially larger pontoon boats, should be aware of the hazard and take extra precautions. The offending rebar is in 2 feet of water and is not readily visible from the surface. The rebar is located about 10 feet perpendicular to the dock and about 4 feet from the end of the dock.
For those who are uncertain about "ownship” of the boat ramp – it is not owned by DLIA. The Cheboygan County Road Commission (CCRC) is responsible for the access road and boat ramp up to the water’s edge. Munro Township is responsible for the ramp from the water’s edge through the water to the end of the ramp. DLIA is communicating with both the CCRC and Munro Township about the deterioration of the 30-year-old boat ramp and the urgency of getting a plan and financing in place to replace the old ramp in the very near future. We will keep the membership apprised as these discussions continue.

Family Concert Series at Pellston Library Garden

A Family Concert Series, sponsored by the Pellston Library and the Blissfest Music Organization, is underway..
There are two remaining concerts:
Tuesday, August 24^th Noon-1:00 p.m. featuring the Waterbaby Brass Band. They follow the improvisational style and tradition of New Orleans but have added in global rhythms mixed with modern funk and dance influences.

Thursday, September 2nd, 6 – 7 p.m. featuring Hannah Harris, a former classical violin student now pursuing a career in Irish traditional fiddling.

These are drop-in events. All concerts in this series are free and are held in the new garden area next to the Pellston Library. Bring a blanket. Pack a lunch of or a snack. Or make yourself comfortable on one of the benches or picnic tables.

Sidewalk Sales – Harbor Springs & Cheboygan

It must be sidewalk sale season – our neighbors to the southwest and east are holding their annual sidewalk sales. Now’s the time to look for some good deals.

Harbor Springs’ sidewalk sales are underway – 39 local stores are participating in sales that began today (Friday August 20^th) and continue tomorrow, Saturday August 21.^st Many stores have sale items displayed both inside and outside, and some will be strictly inside.

Cheboygan – Sidewalk sales will be held Saturday, September 4^th from 10:00a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Happy shopping!

Mobile Boat Wash Unit at Douglas Lake Saturday August 21^st

The Watershed Council’s Mobile Boat Wash Unit is visiting Douglas Lake Saturday, August 21^st from Noon – 4:00p.m. Interns from the Watershed Council will be on hand to offer free boat washes, share information about the risk of aquatic invasives in inland lakes such as Douglas Lake, and pass out free cleaning cloths.
This is the final DLIA-hosted event for the travelling mobile boat wash unit for the 2021 season. While some may not be ready to take their boats out of the water yet, you’re always welcome to stop by and chat with these young folks to thank them for their contributions to maintaining “Clean Boats/Clean Water.”

Last DL Merchandise Sale – September 4^th 10 a.m.-Noon

It can’t be!! Where has summer gone? Just yesterday it was July 4^th. But we can’t re-arrange the heavens – Labor Day is almost upon us, and with that, the end of the summer DLIA Merchandise Season. The last sale is Saturday, September 4^th from 10-Noon. at the Pellston Locker.
Soon the leaves start turning and thoughts move on to winter holidays Don’t overestimate how pleased your friends and family will be went gifted with new Douglas Lake gear and goodies. Yes, there will be an on-line merchandise sale, opening sometime in late November. But why not get that shopping done now while supplies are good? And the options are right in front of you!

Douglas Lake Improvement Association ─ Dues are $25 a year
Mailing address: DLIA, PO Box 472, Pellston, MI 49769
See the Membership tab for the
New Member/Update Member Form
or send membership updates to membership@douglaslake.org
Send News Articles and Obituaries to info@douglaslake.org
Send pictures/photos for DL calendar to pictures@douglaslake.org
The eNews is published twice a month in-season and
as needed (~once a month) off-season.
The DLIA Newsletter is published twice a year - Fall and Spring.
The deadline for November DLIA Newsletter will be announced soon.

Note: We appreciate the obituaries being brief (300 words or less)
and relevant to Douglas Lake. News articles should not exceed 700
words unless approved by the editor. Please be aware
that any article or obituary may be edited to fit into the layout.
Please add the addresses below to your contacts list to ensure that DLIA electronic communications are delivered to your email Inbox and are not marked as spam or junk mail:
membership@douglaslake.org
info@douglaslake.org

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