Happy Summer Season on the Averill Lakes! In these unprecedented and challenging times we are doubly blessed to be part of this community and ecosystem allowing us to recreate, relax, and recharge. It is also time to regather for our Annual Meeting and Picnic!
2022 Annual Meeting & Picnic
The 2022 Annual Meeting & Picnic will take place July 23rd, at 4pm at Jackson's Lodge, 213 Jackson's Lodge Rd in Canaan. As the majority voted in the survey we will be serving burgers and hot dogs again. We ask that you bring salads and desserts to share. There is a fridge at Jackson's Lodge to store them until we eat and we are looking to procure an ice table to keep everything fresh and cold during the picnic. We will be providing bottled water but BYOB (and cooler!) for Beer, Wine, and/or other refreshments. The cost per meal remains at $10 with children 10 and under $5. Camp dues also remain at $20 per camp.
As we did last year we will be having a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, and selling ALA merch. Some of the silent auction items may have minimum bids based on their value. If there is on the spot interest we can also setup a "winner-take-all" cornhole and/or horseshoes tournament.
The contest we are excited about is the ALA logo contest that we will put on the website and future ALA merch. Along with your paid meal ticket you will get a marble to vote for your favorite logo. It is not too late - you have more than a month to create an entry. If you do not have the creative gene look to your extended friends and family.
If you would like more comfy seating than picnic tables we encourage you to bring your favorite portables; and if you have kids feel free to bring balls, outdoor games, etc. for their entertainment.
Because of the solid open rates from past updates - we are looking to save on postage and materials and ask you to click, download, print, fill out, and return by mail with funds the following dues and annual meeting RSVP by June 30th:
By the 2023 annual meeting we look forward to a full online registration and payments capability - to go fully paperless and cashless. However we do not have up to date emails for everyone and there will be a physical mailing going out to members that we do not have email addresses for. To that end we want to use this opportunity to get an updated email address for each ALA member as we will be sending regular updates to the membership.
We do have business to conduct at the Annual Meeting. The first will be a vote to amend our bylaws to allow the Annual Meeting to take place anytime between Memorial Day and Labor Day (inclusive) to allow more flexibility in time and optionality in location (e.g. Quimby's). The second will be a vote for Treasurer and a new ALA Director. Gennette Carr has been nominated to become our Treasurer, replacing Tom Dunn who is retiring from role. Gennette is also playing a big role in helping to setup the picnic portion of our meeting. In addition, Susan Gresser has graciously accepted the opportunity to be an ALA Board member replacing Phil Chapman who is also retiring from his role. Susan has extensive non profit board experience in the NEK and has taken an active role in tributary sampling on Little Averill. Eric Hauschild's and Sharon Chickering's board roles expire in '22. Eric has offered to serve another 2 year term. Dave Leidy, Connie Jackson, and I have agreed to serve another year in our roles if the membership will have us. When it comes time for the election we will entertain nominations from the floor for any active or open position for anyone who would like to serve.
Because of a conflict our originally scheduled Guest Speaker Oliver Pierson will not be able to join us. However I am VERY pleased to report that Kellie Merrell has agreed to be our guest speaker. Kellie is an Environmental Scientist and Lake Ecologist with the Vermont Lakes & Ponds Management & Protection Program. Moreover she is a BIG advocate and sponsor for the Averill Lakes in Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Annual Meeting!
Citizen Science Update
Connie Jackson (with help from Rob!), Susan Gresser, and I have been doing active sampling on the 3 inbound tributaries on Little Averill as soon as Jackson Road opened up after mud season. Kim Hubbard is the new Lay Monitor on Big Averill. Don Tase reprises his role as the Lay Monitor on Little Averill. Data from sampling is beginning to roll in and we will publishing that data here on the website for all to see. Please thank Connie, Rob, Susan, Don, and Kim for the gifts of their time to collect this vital data. I would also like to thank the Cowan and Rich families for allowing us to traipse through their properties on a regular basis to collect samples; and of course Dave Leidy for storing our sampling equipment, allowing us to don safety gear and acidify samples at his kitchen table, store the samples in his refrigerator, and act as a hub for pickup and drop off with the state.
Happy Summer and see you on July 23rd! Bernie Gracy Averill Lakes Association
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