LAKE PARKER ASSOCIATION, INC.
PO Box 69, West Glover, VT 05875
June 1998 Newsletter
Bob Johnson - President
Annual Meeting
Edition!
Saturday, July 11th, the date for our Annual Meeting and Potluck Supper is fast approaching and I hope everyone plans to attend. We have some proposed by-law amendments, described later in the newsletter, so there is some important business to consider. But mostly, we are just looking forward to seeing everyone again and having the opportunity to share ideas about our common interests in Lake Parker and the Association. So bring a favorite dish to share and come for a neighborly get together.
Summer 1998
Upcoming Events – Post near your Calendar!
EVENT |
DATE |
TIME |
PLACE |
|
Lake Parker
Association *** Annual Meeting and Potluck Supper *** |
Saturday, July 11th |
5:30 PM |
West Glover Church |
|
Kids poster contest deadline for entry submission. |
Saturday, July 11 |
5:00 PM |
Lake Parker Store |
|
20th Anniversary Lay Monitoring Program Celebration. With special guests Gov. Dean and Senator Leahy. |
Friday, July 17th |
5:00 –7:00PM |
Radisson Hotel, Burlington, VT. |
|
LakeFEST ‘98 Week |
July 18 - 26th |
N/A |
State of Vermont |
|
Aquatic Nuisance Species Workshop Hosted by the Shadow Lake Association |
Tuesday, July 21st |
3:00-5:00PM |
Glover Town Hall |
|
Workshop: Watershed Management; Building a Community Base – LPA representatives will be presenting information on our watershed survey. |
Thursday, July 23rd |
2:30 -5:00PM |
Lake Morey Inn, Fairlee, VT |
|
Kids poster contest winners announced. |
Saturday, July 25th |
TBD |
TBD |
|
Glover Day |
Saturday, July 25th |
All Day |
Glover, VT |
|
LakeFEST ‘98
Wrap-Up *** Dixieland Band
/ Lake-Wide family grill-out. *** |
Sunday, July 26th |
1:00-4:00 PM |
Lake Parker Boat Access |
*** Annual
Meeting and Potluck Supper – Mark your Calendar! ***
Saturday, July 11, 1998 is the date for our annual business meeting and potluck supper! The potluck supper is from 5:30PM to 7:00PM with business meeting following. At the suggestion of our membership, we are starting a little earlier than we have in the past to allow for more time to chat with our neighbors during the potluck supper. Please mark your calendar and plan on attending.
Agenda is as
follows:
Introduction of Officers
Introduction of New Members
Minutes of last year’s meeting.
Treasurer’s Report
Old Business
Standing Committee Reports
Fishing
Water Quality
Home Security
Boat and Water Safety
Government Liaison
Land Use and Conservation
Weed Harvesting
Membership
Communications
New Business
Proposed by-law Amendments – see below.
Other New Business
Adjournment
PROPOSED
BY-LAW AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE VII, Section 1, Method of Amendment
The current by-laws read: "These by-laws
may be amended at any annual or special meeting of the members of the
Corporation by a majority vote of those voting, provided that notice of the
proposed amendment, or amendments, accompany the call of the meeting; such
notice to be mailed to each member not less than ten (10) days prior to the
date of the meeting."
At the June 6, 1998 Lake Parker Association
(LPA) Executive Board Meeting, it was
recommended that the following by-law amendments be presented for voting to the
LPA membership at the July 11, 1998 annual meeting.
Proposed changes are underlined.
ARTICLE II, Section 3, Membership Dues
NOW READS: Unless otherwise determined by the
members of the Corporation, the dues for membership in the Corporation shall be
ten dollars ($10) per year per family. Each family membership is
entitled to two votes.
CHANGE TO READ: Unless otherwise determined by
the members of the Corporation, the dues for membership in the Corporation
shall be fifteen dollars ($15) per year per family. Each family
membership is entitled to two votes.
EXPLANATION: When the LPA was incorporated in
1971, dues were established at $3 per year per person, $5 per couple. In 1981,
they were amended to read $10 per family. With the help of state grants for the
weed-cutting programs carried on for 18 years, and by good financial practices
by the LPA Officers, the LPA has established a substantial financial balance. It
should be remembered, however, that there were a number of years when the State
was in a bad financial position and no grant money was forthcoming. During
these years the LPA continued with the full weed-cutting program including
machinery repairs and part replacements, at their own expense. There is no
reason to believe that this could not happen again. Therefore, it is felt that
most of the existing bank balance should be held as a "Reserve Fund",
for unanticipated expenses, including the possibility of equipment replacement
in the future. The day-to-day costs of other LPA activities, such as
newsletters, LPA sponsored lake and community programs, etc., should be covered
by annual dues income as much as possible. (Consider, for example, the postage
to mail a newsletter to 100 members in 1981 cost $18.00, compared to $32.00
today, and another postage increase is anticipated!) The LPA Board recommends
approval of this amendment.
ARTICLE IV, Section 6, Authority of the Board
NOW READS: The Board is empowered to manage the
affairs of the Corporation, subject to such restrictions as may be
specifically imposed by the Corporation
membership. It is authorized to vote such expenditures of the Corporation as
may be required. These expenditures shall not exceed two hundred dollars
($200) per expenditure in any fiscal year with the exception of the routine
expenditures such as printing, mailing, patrol expenses, secretarial expenses,
map revision etc. Any larger expenditures shall be approved by the members
at the annual meeting or at a special meeting.
CHANGE TO READ: The Board is empowered to manage
the affairs of the Corporation, subject to such restrictions as may be
specifically imposed by the Corporation membership. It is authorized to vote
such expenditures of the Corporation as may be required. With the approval
of both the President and the Treasurer, any single expenditure may not exceed four
hundred dollars ($400) in any fiscal year. Any larger expenditures shall be
approved by the members at the annual meeting or at a special meeting.
EXPLANATION: The original by-laws allowed a
total of $100 in any fiscal year. In 1981, this was amended to allow a total of
$200 in any fiscal year. In about 1985, it was further amended to allow a total
of $200 per expenditure, as in the current by-laws. Increased activity by the
LPA in both lake-related and community-oriented programs, along with
substantial cost increases since 1985, bring about the need for consideration
of this amendment. The LPA Board recommends approval.
Grant Status
We noted in the last newsletter that Beryl Adams and Bob Richards had applied for a Better Back Roads grant to improve the roads and ditches on the western side of the lake. We are pleased to announce that we received $2000.00 for this project. The work should be completed this summer.
Weed Harvesting
Notes
Thanks to Ernie Lord and Jeff Millette the weed cutting machine is in the water and ready to go. The machine is stored at Jeff’s (camp #17). If you are checked out on the machine you can use it anytime even if Jeff is not at home. Fill out the time sheets that are in the cupboard on Jeff’s garage. If you would like some instruction on how to use the machine contact Jeff or Glenn Barber (camp #33). Please keep track of the time you spend cutting or raking weeds or working on the machine, this is very important to us because we get reimbursed for this time via the State of Vermont Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant Program.
It is the responsibility of each
camp owner to remove the weeds that drift ashore on their property but if you
need help with this you may call Glenn Barber at 525-4113.
Report On
Watershed Survey - Kickoff Meeting.
The Watershed Survey Kickoff Meeting was held on June 6th. Nineteen people volunteered to help out with the survey so we are off to good start this year.
Report On Instructors Boating Safety Course
An Instructors Boating Safety Course was held on June 18th. Four people from Lake Parker, two people from Shadow Lake and one person from Willoughby Lake were certified to teach the state boating safety course. The new instructors from Lake Parker will offer the course as described below.
Boating
Safety Course Offered
Vermont State Boating Laws require that all persons born after January 1, 1974, pass a Boating Safety Course before operating a motorboat. The Lake Parker Association (LPA) will sponsor a Boating Safety Course taught by certified instructors. It is an 8-hour course, and will be made up of two 4-hour sessions; 9 AM – 1 PM, Saturday, July 11th, and 1 PM – 5 PM Sunday July 12th. Attendance at both sessions is required. If you are interested please phone 525-4606, or 525-6252, to reserve a place, and for location information. The class size will be limited to a total of 8 people. Recommended minimum age is 12 years, and adults are also encouraged to take the course. There is no charge for the course. Pre-registration is mandatory.
Poster Contest
Notice
HEY, ALL YOU KIDS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE 8TH GRADE! Join the fun - enter the LakeFEST '98 Poster Contest and win a prize! All Glover school kids, as well as kids vacationing at Lake Parker, Shadow Lake and Daniels Pond, up through the 8th grade are eligible. Use your talents and design a poster on the theme "Protect Our Lakes". Add your name, age and grade level on the back, and you are on your way! Drawings must be original and can be any size up to a standard 22” X 28” poster board. The theme "Protect Our Lakes" must be printed somewhere on the front of the poster. Deadline for submission - to the Lake Parker Country Store - is Saturday, July 11, 1998. Winners will be announced on "Glover Day", Saturday, July 25th, and all entries will be on display in downtown Glover - location to be announced. There will be first, second and third place winners in each of five grade categories: Kindergarten, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Grades 5-6, and Grades 7-8. So put on your thinking caps and get busy. Questions? Call 525-6252 or 525-4057.
LakeFEST '98 Wrap-Up
Our LakeFest '98 celebration will conclude the weekend of July 25-26 with several noteworthy events:
1) The winners of the Poster Contest will be chosen and all entries will be on display in downtown Glover, on "Glover Day", Saturday, July 25th. Come see them and congratulate all the talented kids!
2)
*** On Sunday
afternoon, July 26th, the "Maple Leaf 7" Dixieland Band will be
cruising around Lake Parker starting about 1:00 PM and winding up with a
concert at the boat access which will last until 4:00PM. Including our own Ron
Ducham, from camp #66, the band will have you all on your feet! So bring your
outdoor grills to the boat access, or put them along the shoreline, put on the
chicken or ribs or steaks, and lets have a lake-wide family
"grill-out" while you enjoy the toe tapping music. In case of
inclement weather, the band will perform in the West Glover Church. ***
Notes on Camp Security - by Frank Daignault & Joyce Littlefield
The bad news is, crime is on the increase. Yes, even the remoteness of the Northeast
Kingdom is not a barrier against this element of humanity. The good news is, you can take measures to
ward it off. Sgt. Bruce Melendy of the
State Police spoke with us recently and made these observations:
During the summer, most camps are occupied, either
by the owner’s or renters. Even if
folks don’t have the pleasure of being at their camps for the season, they are
usually up during weekends or other camps close by are occupied. There are, generally, minimal problems with
camps over the summer months as a result.
In order to further minimize the likelihood that your camp could be
targeted when you can’t be there, the following are some very good suggestions:
1. Get to
know the camps around you and the owners.
Know their cars, and when they’ll be there. You, as the camp owner, should let your neighbors know when you
will be up, and especially if you will be renting it or having guests use your
place when you’re not there. Leave a
key with someone you trust in case someone needs to get in to check, or to
secure your camp.
2. If you
notice any unfamiliar cars parked in the area, jot down the make, model and
license plate number and keep on hand for future reference. If you find out later that a camp was broken
into - this information could be useful to the Police.
3. Keep your
camp locked. Most burglars are lazy -
they’ll look first for easy entrance.
They don’t want to make noise as breaking glass could attract
attention. Don’t make it easy for them
! Install deadbolt locks (the type you
need a key to open on both sides) and locks on windows.
4. Put away
any valuables. TV’s, VCR’s, stereos -
are all very attractive to would-be thieves.
Keep a log, somewhere safe, of any serial numbers for valuables.
5. Make the
place look occupied. Arrange to have
someone mow the lawn; have your mail picked up if it’s delivered to your
camp. If you leave the electricity on,
install timers - preferably ones that you can stagger the on/off times. Install motion detectors at all entrances.
6. Get to
know your neighbors - watch out for each other. Don’t feel like you’re being nosy - if something doesn’t look
right it’s best to investigate. We
should all appreciate each other investigating anything out of the
ordinary. If there are people you don’t
know, either try to reach the camp owner to check it out, or call the State
Police. If it turns out the people
around your property should be there, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Start mini “neighborhood watch” groups. Let them know when you’ll be around.
7. If you
are letting strangers fish off your property, make sure they are told they may
do so only when you are there. Make
sure you take down the information on their vehicles in case of future
problems.
8. Never
let a stranger in your camp. If someone
comes to your door looking for directions or to use a phone because their car
broke down - speak with them outside and YOU make any calls to the police,
family or tow truck. If they are
legitimate, they won’t object. Sgt.
Melendy also stressed never to approach a strange vehicle. Keep a safe distance.
9. If you
have asked the State Police to do a camp check - make sure you notify them if
your plans change and you will be there during the time they would be checking
in ! If they’ve been by, they’ll leave
a card in the door.
10. Call the State Police if you find evidence of
any camp break in.
11. If you
really want some peace of mind when you’re away - consider installing a
security alarm. Sgt. Melendy says very
few homes or camps with alarms get broken into. He cautions against having the audible type, electric storm and
power failures can set them off, and at
1:00 in the morning you could have some very unhappy neighbors ! He recommends the silent alarms that relay
directly to the alarm company.
Unfortunately, in addition to the inconvenience and
repair costs of a break-in, the police are seeing an increase in malicious
destruction as well. They attribute
this to kids, and sometimes as an angry response if they break in and don’t
find any valuables, or if the camp has been boarded up.
The most important thing is: know who should be around the area - and if you see someone acting suspiciously or someone you don’t recognize, make a note or call the Police to investigate. The best crime prevention is: being a good neighbor - get involved, look after one another.
Lake Parker’s
Own Ornithologist
Have
you ever had trouble identifying an unusual species of bird? Dr. Ray Griffin
(camp # 20) has offered to help out! Dr. Griffin and his wife Olive have made a
hobby of bird-watching for many years and are probably the leading experts on
the subject in this area. They have traveled extensively on birding expeditions
and lead bird-watching field trips locally. Dr. Griffin also writes
bird-sighting reports for the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences. If you see
a bird that you can’t identify, give Dr. Griffin a call at 525-3646. He will
gladly try to help you identify the bird from your phone description or he may
need to come and observe the bird to properly identify it. Dr. Griffin clearly
loves his hobby, and I’m sure that you will enjoy talking to him about your
sightings. He has also suggested that if there is enough interest, he would be
willing to lead a local bird watching field trip sometime in the future. Any interest?
Selectmen Remind Us
The
Glover Selectmen remind us that water and electrical lines are not to be run through
culverts as this causes problems when cleaning or replacing the culverts.
Campers can, however, put lines through a culvert during the summer months as
long as all lines are removed in the fall.
Conservation License Plate Grants
Proceeds from the sale of Vermont Conservation
License Plates provide funding for local and regional watershed projects in
Vermont. Funds are available for water-related projects that:
·
Protect
or restore fish and wildlife habitats;
·
Protect
or restore water quality, shorelines, and streambanks;
·
Develop
or enhance recreational access and trails;
·
Identify
and protect historic and cultural resources;
·
Educate
people about watershed resources;
·
Monitor
fish and wildlife populations and/or water quality.
If you register a vehicle in Vermont, please
consider purchasing a Conservation License Plate. Applications can be found at
the Lake Parker Country Store.
CPR Courses
Planned
If enough interest is shown, the Glover Ambulance
Squad will sponsor two separate CPR courses this summer. One course will be for
adult CPR and the other for infant and child CPR. Contact Betsy Day at 525-4051
for details.
Charter Member
of the Association Passes Away
Paul Hanson, of Lexington, MA, owner of camp #92 on
the east shore, and one of the charter members of the Lake Parker Association,
passed away in October 1997. Before the LPA was officially organized in 1971,
Paul served as the Secretary-Treasurer Pro Tem, until the election of the first
officers of the Association. At that time, in 1971, Paul served as Chairman of
the Land Use & Conservation Committee, and fulfilled that responsibility
for 20 years, until his health required he give it up, in 1991. Paul
contributed greatly in the laying of the strong foundation for the existing
Lake Parker Association.
How to give us Feedback
If you would like to share your ideas on Association
matters, please contact Bob Johnson, camp #25, at 525-3458 during the day or
525-4078 evenings, or Glenn Barber, camp #33, at 525-4113. Of course, you can
always drop us a line at Lake Parker Association, Inc., PO Box 69, West Glover,
VT 05875(or use the comments section on the dues remittance form.)
News About
Dues
Yes, it is that time again! The LPA fiscal year starts on July 1st each year. If you haven’t paid your dues this year it is time to do so. You can pay at the Annual Meeting and Potluck Supper on July 11th or you can use the enclosed form and mail in your dues. The Association has been busy this year and has had increased expenses so your dues are more important than ever. Thanks to all of you, about 50 members, who have already paid your dues. This is an extremely good number for this time of year!
|
JD’s CORNER Notes on Common Courtesies Hi, I’m JD! Most of you know me as that handsome chocolate lab that you just can’t resist petting when you are out for a walk along the western shore. My master is taking a lunch break so I’m going to sneak a few words into the LPA newsletter. You can provide feedback on JD’s Corner by e-mailing me at jd@tec-i.com. Now that most of the “human campers” have returned for the summer it seems a good time to bring up some of suggestions I have on common courtesies: |
Z Be respectful that most humans are here to escape the noise of the “big city” and chose Lake Parker for it’s serenity and sense of “community”. Be courteous of your neighbors and take pride in the lake.
Z Remember that the lake is for having fun but that noise travels great distances across water, especially in the evenings when the wind dies down, so please be courteous of your neighbors and keep music and noise levels down after 10:00 PM.
Z Keep an eye on each others camps - start your own mini “neighborhood watch” and report any suspicious activity to the State Police.
Z When burning debris (leaves, branches) please don’t leave the fire unattended and make sure the wind is not blowing the smoke into your neighbors area.
Z When out walking, bring along a trash bag and help keep the area clean and don’t forget to bring along plenty of treats for the canine campers you meet along the way.
Z The boat access area is not for late night parties. If groups are congregating there and causing a disturbance, report it to the State Police.
Z If you know someone is elderly or alone, see if they need assistance in getting to the stores, etc., or help cleaning up around their camps.
Here’s a good deal!
Remember that your ambulance subscription runs from March to March each year. You do not need to subscribe in order to use the services of the ambulance squad. But if you do subscribe, only $20.00 per household, any charges that your insurance doesn’t pay the ambulance squad will absorb. Please use the form below if you wish to subscribe to the ambulance.
|
1998 Subscription Form for
Glover Ambulance |
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Name: |
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Names
of members of household: |
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Local
Address: |
|
(include
camp #) |
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Please include a check for $20.00 payable to: Glover Ambulance Squad C/O
Marion Woodard Glover, VT 05839 |
A FLATLANDER’S VIEW
by Beryl Adams
Bob’s changed since we became year-round residents of Lake Parker almost
three years ago. I think he’s become
Vermontized. It seems to be a syndrome
that strikes males predominantly, maybe appealing to boyhood daydreams of Tom
Sawyer and Huck Finn - of times when Nature was an everyday friend, when
getting dirty felt darned good, and when finding a piece of twine or a shiny
bolt was a treasure story worth retelling.
Anyway, Bob’s changed. He wears
camouflage proudly. And often. He quotes Jeff Foxworthy in hushed, almost
reverent, tones. He identifies manure
spreaders by make and model number. And he brings home STUFF.
Bob brings home STUFF that’s
rusty, dusty, ripped, and worn. But
that’s okay, because it was really cheap and it only needs a little fixing up
to be “just like new,” a conditional
statement that somehow appeals to my practical sense and allows him to pile it
all in the yard by the shed. I think there’s an underlying magical belief that STUFF will spontaneously self-repair
when it’s near tools.
Now, I can’t accuse Vermont of creating this STUFF addiction in Bob. I
mean, to be fair, he always had the potential for a serious STUFF problem long before we moved here
- sort of like a dormant gene, just waiting for the right conditions to burst
into joyous, uncontrolled expression.
In the city, natural selection held it in check. There was a very small, clearly defined,
Critical Mass of STUFF we could have
on our front lawn before the condo association wrote us a nasty note, sent
Howie out in the corporate truck, and billed us for an unscheduled trash
pick-up.
But consider what can happen to the unexpressed gene when environmental
limits are suddenly gone. Consider the
effect of cultural tolerance, even reverence, for STUFF as an essential piece of a practical, do-it-yourself work
ethic. Consider what happens when Bob
moves into this geographic area and discovers that there’s no corporate truck
and nobody calls Howie.
There’s a battered, seat-torn wheelchair parked by the side of our
driveway. Finding the practical
application here was a real stretch for me, but Bob had a logical
explanation. I thought he was making it
up on the spot, since his eyes kind of glazed over and his breathing rate
increased noticeably, as he described the improbable transformation of this piece
of medical support equipment into a garden cart for me.
The next morning at work, I was discussing my STUFF concerns with several teachers. It was a relief to hear that their husbands also collect STUFF, and that there’s no shame in
storing a sink in the yard or stopping on the highway to pick up a free
bungie-cord . As an impromptu,
gender-biased test, I threw out the concept of
the wheelchair as a five-dollar bargain. As they were musing it over in puzzlement, the school principal
joined us. His eyes kind of glazed
over, he wiped the back of his hand nervously across his mouth, and his
breathing rate increased. “I’ll give
him $10 for it,” he panted.
The gene is definitely located on the Y chromosome, probably near those
remarkable male abilities in spatial reasoning and map-folding. I may never understand it, but I’m learning
to appreciate the STUFF habit. But I’m keeping Howie’s phone number anyway,
just in case we reach Critical Mass.