News from the Skaneateles Lake Association…..Membership Matters

Fran Rotunno Fish

There is much to say about the 2017 Skaneateles Lake Association Membership.  On the very positive side 823 individuals/families joined this SLA in 2017 which is 86 more memberships than 2016 (about a 12% increase).  Additionally, on the positive side, 109 individuals/families joined in 2017 who were first time members and a good number of those came in late in the season …after the bloom.  Hopefully, a realization of the importance of the SLA to the health of the lake was an impetus for new memberships.  We hope to see all 108 of those memberships rejoining in 2018.  Finally, we are pleased to be able to report and commend the 109 individuals/families who have been members of the SLA for SEVEN consecutive years starting in 2011 through 2017.  Sustained memberships are the backbone of funding for a non-profit organization and we hope that all 823 of our 2017 members will rejoin in 2018.

We are disappointed that 86 individuals/families who joined in 2016 did not rejoin in 2017.  If they had joined our membership for 2018 would have been over 900!  We hope that each of those 86 individuals/families will respond to a letter sent to them recently reminding them that we need them back for 2018.   THE MOST DISAPPOINTING MEMBERSHIP MATTER IS THAT OVER 400 INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES WITH PROPERTY ON THE LAKEFRONT OR PROPERTY WITH LAKE RIGHTS HAVE NEVER JOINED THE SLA.

Membership dues and the additional donations that support the efforts of the SLA are very important.  Being a steward of the lake, keeping eyes on the lake and following the “if you see something, say something” mantra of public safety is important, but we need every member to also be on the “membership outreach team” and encourage membership in the Skaneateles Lake Association.  We have available membership registration forms in an envelope with the following message printed on it:  “ If you live on the lake; if you boat, swim, kayak, sail or paddle the lake; if you fish the lake; if you drink the lake water; if the lake draws customers to your business; or if you just love the lake, shouldn’t you be a member of the Skaneateles Lake Association?  Join us today.  Registration Form & Mailing Envelope Enclosed or Go to SkaneatelesLake.org   Thank You!”.  If you would like a few of these envelopes to use to encourage membership in the SLA advise us via the “contact us” tab at SkaneatelesLake.org and they will be sent to you to use.

Please thank the following for their sponsorship of the Milfoil Boat: Ellen Brown & Carl Schramm, Alexandra & Richard Nicklas, Johanna & Gianfranco Frittelli, the Columbian Foundation, Norma & Dave McCarthy, Karen & Paul Black, Lynn & Gardner McLean, Nicole & Michael Falcone, Patience Brewster & Holly Gregg, and The Sherwood Inn.

Please thank the following for their co-sponsorship of the Milfoil Boat:  Kathleen & Ben Tarantino, Nellie Ramsden & Kenneth Hyde, Erica and Ken Byrne, Linda & Bruce Kenan, Ann & Gary Tyndall, Mary Beth and William Gleason, Annette & Peter Becker, Patricia & Ralph Troisi, Carol & Tom Fletcher, Christina Castle, Sandra Skiff, Ann Hinchcliff, JoDean & Timothy Orcutt, Meg O’Connell & Eric Allyn, Mary Jane & Gary Lowery, Deborah & Joseph Augustine, Beth & Bob Filiczkowski, Linda & Russell Ruthig, Lynn Bonniver,  Mary Pat & Dan Suits, Bev & Steve White, Gina & Geoffrey Wickwire, Nancy & Guido Van der Ven, Judith Krieger, Barbara & John Spain, Tammy & Stephen Down,  Nancy & Guy Easter,  and The Sherwood Inn.

Please thank the following for their sponsorship an Invasive Species Monitoring Steward for a day:  Robert Scheer, Catherine & Steven Fedrizzi, Emily & James Johnson, Mary & Richard Kokosa, Diane Forney, Julie Stafford & Michael Boudreau, Enid & Gabor Racz, Bob Honold, Emma & Patrick Delmonico, Susan Phipps Littlehales and The Sherwood Inn.

Please thank the following for their donations to the Hardy Fund which helps to support the Invasive Species Monitoring Steward Program:  Edward Spencer, Edward Carsky, Katherine McCarthy, Dawn & John Altmeyer, Martha Stephens, Pam & John Pidhirny, Beverly Quimby, Nancy Murray, Kendra & Donald Witter, Beverlee Akerblom, Robert Scheer, Gracia Kozio, Camille & Thomas Potter, Peggy & John Manring, Mary Jacqueline Keady and The Sherwood Inn.

You can jump in and join the SLA today at SkaneatelesLake.org or call 315-685-9106 and request a member registration form.

Source:  Skaneateles Press